The Federation International de Football Administration (FIFA) has penalised the Republic of South Africa for fielding an ineligible player in their match against Lesotho. As a result, the match has been forfeited, and Lesotho has been awarded 3 goals and 3 points.
Additionally, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has been fined CHF 10,000, and Teboho Mokoena has received a warning.
This development has since brightened the hopes of Benin Republic, Rwanda and Nigeria qualifying for the World Cup, the biggest football tournament in the world.
Full Statement:
FIFA Disciplinary Committee Sanctions South African Football Association
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for having fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the South Africa v. Lesotho match played on 21 March 2025 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 TM preliminary competition, thereby breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Preliminary Competition Regulations.
Consequently, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has declared the match in question to have been forfeited by the representative team of South Africa by a score of 3-0.
SAFA has also been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 to FIFA, while Teboho Mokoena has been issued with a warning.
The parties were notified of the terms of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision today. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FDC, they have ten days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com. The forfeiture decision remains subject to a potential appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.
