‎FIFA’s hammer finally falls on South Africa

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‎After weeks of anxiety over the delay by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to apply the rule as it affects the use of an ineligible player for matches, the world football governing body has finally sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for having fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena.

‎The offence was in the South Africa versus Lesotho match played on 21 March 2025 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition which breached article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Preliminary Competition Regulations.
‎A a result therefore, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has declared the match in question has been forfeited by the Bafana Bafana of South Africa by a score of 3-0.

‎South Africa’s football body, SAFA has also been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 to FIFA, while Teboho Mokoena has been issued with a warning.
‎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.