FIFA Fines South Africa, Awards Lesotho 3-0 Victory Over Breaching Player Eligibility Rules

FIFA Fines South Africa, Awards Lesotho 3-0 Victory Over Breaching Player Eligibility Rules

By Niyi Busari 

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has been sanctioned by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee for fielding an ineligible player during a 2026 FIFA World Cup preliminary qualifying match against Lesotho on 21 March 2025, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

According to a statement released by FIFA on Monday, midfielder Teboho Mokoena was deemed ineligible to participate in the fixture, thereby breaching Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations.

As a result, the match has been declared forfeited, with a 3-0 win awarded to Lesotho. In addition, SAFA has been fined CHF 10,000 (approximately USD 11,000), and Mokoena has received an official warning.

FIFA has informed all relevant parties of the decision, which may be appealed. Under the current regulations, SAFA has ten days to request a motivated (detailed) decision. Should such a request be made, the full reasoning will be published on FIFA’s legal website.

The ruling could have significant implications for South Africa’s World Cup qualifying campaign, as the forfeiture alters the group standings and potentially impacts the team’s progression prospects.

If this is upheld, South Africa who had 17 points will have 14, same points with Benin Republic while Nigeria and Rwanda have 11 points each. With two games coming up in October, the  group's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers will have to end before any team can claim the sole ticket.