The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for using an ineligible player in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho on 21 March 2025.
FIFA ruled that midfielder Teboho Mokoena should not have played in the game, which broke Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the World Cup Preliminary Competition Regulations.
As punishment, the match has been awarded to Lesotho as a 3-0 win. SAFA was also fined 10,000 Swiss Francs, while Mokoena received an official warning.
The ruling could affect South Africa’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, as the lost points may damage their position in the group standings.
FIFA said all parties were informed of the decision today. Under the rules, SAFA has ten days to ask for a full written judgment, which would then be published on legal.fifa.com. The case can also be appealed to the FIFA Appeal Committee.
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