FIFA Ruling on Mokoena Case Sends Bafana Tumbling in WC Group

Bafana Bafana has suffered a major setback in their World Cup qualification campaign, receiving an official FIFA points deduction. 

The penalty was handed down after the team fielded a suspended player, Mamelodi Sundowns' Teboho Mokoena, in their Group C qualifier against Lesotho.

Mokoena should have been serving a ban for an accumulation of two yellow cards. The consequence is severe: Bafana's 2-0 victory has been nullified and converted into a 0-3 loss, wiping out three crucial points. 

This ruling strips Hugo Broos' side of their three-point lead and sees them lose the top spot in Group C to Benin. SA are now second place in the group with 14 points, equal to Benin who are now leading on top.

FIFA RULING ON TEBOHO MOKOENA CASE

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for having fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the South Africa v. Lesotho match played on 21 March 2025 in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ preliminary competition, thereby breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 M Preliminary Competition Regulations,” FIFA stated.

“Consequently, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has declared the match in question to have been forfeited by the representative team of South Africa by a score of 3-0.

“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.”