The South African Football Association (SAFA) has been hit with disciplinary action by FIFA after fielding an ineligible player during a World Cup qualifying match earlier this year.
In a ruling issued by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, SAFA was found guilty of breaching Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and Article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations.
The violation occurred when midfielder Teboho Mokoena played in South Africa’s match against Lesotho on March 21, 2025.
As punishment, FIFA has declared the fixture forfeited in favor of Lesotho, awarding them a 3-0 victory. South Africa had initially secured points from the game, but the ruling strips them of the result, which could prove costly in the race for World Cup qualification.
In addition to the forfeiture, SAFA has been fined 10,000 Swiss francs (CHF) by FIFA. Teboho Mokoena himself has escaped a harsher penalty but was officially issued with a warning.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association for having fielded an ineligible player,” the statement read, underscoring the seriousness of compliance with international regulations.
The setback comes at a critical time for Bafana Bafana, who are battling for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The loss of points and financial penalty add further pressure on the team and its administrators as qualification continues.
SAFA has not yet issued a public response to FIFA’s decision.
