FIFA has penalised the South African Football Association (SAFA) for fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena in a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho, despite the player being ineligible. The game, played on March 21, 2025, was part of the preliminary rounds for the 2026 World Cup.
According to FIFA, SAFA violated Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the World Cup 2026 preliminary competition regulations by selecting Mokoena.
As a result, South Africa has been handed a 3-0 forfeit defeat in favour of Lesotho, fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£9,000), and Mokoena has received an official warning.
In a statement on Monday, FIFA confirmed that the decision had already been communicated to all parties involved:
“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.
