FIFA Sanctions SAFA Over Ineligible Player in World Cup Qualifier

29.09.2025 | Football DNA ⚽️

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has handed down sanctions against the South African Football Association (SAFA) after it was found guilty of fielding an ineligible player during a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Midfielder Teboho Mokoena, 28, was fielded in South Africa’s match against Lesotho on 21 March 2025 in Polokwane, despite being under suspension. South Africa went on to win the game 2–0, but FIFA has since ruled that the result stands null and void.

The Ruling

FIFA confirmed that the decision was made in line with Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and Article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Preliminary Competition Regulations, both of which strictly govern player eligibility.

As a result:

South Africa must forfeit the match, with the result recorded as a 3-0 win for Lesotho.

SAFA has been fined CHF 10,000.

Teboho Mokoena has been issued a warning.

The disciplinary ruling was communicated to the parties today. SAFA now has ten days to request a motivated decision. Should they do so, the full decision will be published on legal.fifa.com. The forfeiture ruling also remains subject to appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.

Reactions and Implications

According to a statement published by SABC Sport, a credible soccer news platform in South Africa, Mokoena’s suspension was overlooked, leading to the costly error.

This ruling deals a major blow to Bafana Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, as the team now loses three vital points from a match they initially won on the pitch.

Whether SAFA will pursue an appeal remains to be seen, but the incident highlights the importance of strict administrative diligence in international football.