FIFA has docked South Africa three points and overturned the results of its World Cup Qualifier in March against Lesotho.
The decision was announced by the governing body in a media release on Monday.
In their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on 21 March, Bafana Bafana fielded Teboho Mokoena, who should have been serving a one-match suspension for yellow cards accumulated.
Despite the match being played in March, FIFA announced that it was investigating the matter in September, with the outcome of that investigation being published on Monday.
“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,” the media release reads.
“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.”
In addition to losing three points and taking a three-goal hit, SAFA has been ordered to pay a fine of 10 000 Swiss Franks (R216 604,00) to FIFA and has issued Teboho Mokoena 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,” the statement says.
Bafana Bafana have lost top spot in group C in the African qualifiers, but are tied with Benin on 14 points. Their goal difference now moves from eight to three, one below Benin’s four.
South Africa will face Zimbabwe and Rwanda on 10 and 14 October respectively in their last two qualifiers.
