FIFA has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA ) for fielding ineligible midfielder Teboho Mokoena in a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.
The match, played on March 21, 2025, was part of the preliminary stage for the 2026 World Cup.
SAFA was found to have violated Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code as well as Article 14 of the preliminary competition regulations for the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA confirmed that South Africa must forfeit the match 3-0 in favor of Lesotho. Safa has also been forced to pay a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs (£9,000), while Mokoena has been issued a warning.
In a statement on Monday, FIFA stated that the decision had already been communicated to the parties involved.
“The parties were notified of the terms of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision today,” it read.
“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.”
