FIFA came down hard on the SAFA with sanctions after fielding an ineligible player. The severe sanctions follow a disciplinary hearing that found SAFA guilty of a serious regulatory breach during a recent World Cup qualifier.
The controversy centres on the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition match between South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and Lesotho, which was played on March 21 this year. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee investigated and confirmed that SAFA had selected midfielder Teboho Mokoena for the crucial fixture, despite the player being ineligible at the time.
This constitutes a clear violation of the strict rules that govern international competition. In a statement, the Committee outlined the specific breaches, noting that SAFA had fallen foul of Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the Preliminary Competition Regulations.
ALSO READ: PSL Fines and Bans Yadah FC Executive Member Spencer Muvadi After Assault on Goalkeeper
FIFA Slams SAFA With Sanctions Over Ineligible Player Scandal
The consequences for this administrative failure are severe and have immediate sporting implications. The match, which South Africa had initially played, has now been officially declared a forfeit.
The most significant outcome of the ruling is the sporting penalty. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has overturned the original result and awarded Lesotho a 3-0 victory. This forfeiture dramatically alters the landscape of the group standings and deals a significant blow to Bafana Bafana’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The points lost in this manner could prove catastrophic to the team’s campaign.
Furthermore, the financial penalty imposed on the national football body is substantial. SAFA has been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 to FIFA. When converted, this amounts to a significant sum of approximately R 200,000. The player at the very heart of the scandal, Teboho Mokoena, has not escaped official notice, having been issued with a formal warning by the Committee.
The Door to an Appeal Remains Ajar
While the decision has been formally communicated to all involved parties, the final chapter of this saga may not yet be written. The governing body’s statement included a crucial caveat, confirming that the decision, which includes a warning for the player, is subject to appeal.
ALSO READ:How South Africa Can Still Qualify For World Cup Despite FIFA Points Deduction For Mokoena-Gate
This provides a glimmer of hope for SAFA, which now has a narrow ten-day window to request a motivated decision from FIFA. This document would provide the detailed legal reasoning behind the ruling, which SAFA would then need to challenge before the FIFA Appeal Committee if they choose to fight the verdict. For now, the football nation holds its breath, awaiting the association’s next move in a high-stakes battle off the field.
Follow Us on Google News for Immediate Updates
The post FIFA Slams SAFA With Sanctions Over Ineligible Player Scandal appeared first on iHarare News.
