FIFA Sanctions South Africa for Ineligible Player, Awards Lesotho 3-0 Win

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By Johnson Folarin

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has handed the South African Football Association (SAFA) a heavy sanction for fielding ineligible midfielder Teboho Mokoena in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho.

The disciplinary action follows the fixture played on 21 March 2025, where FIFA confirmed that SAFA violated Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the 2026 World Cup preliminary competition regulations.

As punishment, FIFA awarded a 3–0 forfeit victory to Lesotho and imposed a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs (about £9,000) on SAFA. In addition, Mokoena himself received a formal warning from the global football governing body.

FIFA’s Official Statement

In a statement released on Monday, FIFA said:
“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 ruling leaves South Africa in a precarious position as the race for the 2026 World Cup intensifies, with fans across Africa already reacting strongly to the setback.

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