Online Reporter
THE FIFA Disciplinary Committee has ordered South Africa to forfeit the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Lesotho on a 0-3 scoreline after the South African Football Association (SAFA) were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player Tebogo Mokoena.
According to the ruling from FIFA, SAFA were also ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 to the world football governing body for breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations.
SAFA could still appeal the ruling to the FIFA Appeal Committee.
A statement from FIFA on Monday read: “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 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
However, the ruling has not affected Bafana Bafana’s position in Group C where they still lead the race for qualification. South Africa are now on 14 points, equal with Benin.
However, they maintained their pole position because of a slender superior goal difference. The group also includes West African giants Nigeria, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
