The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ preliminary match against Lesotho on March 21, 2025.
According to FIFA, SAFA’s action breached Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Preliminary Competition Regulations. As a consequence, the match has been forfeited, with South Africa declared losers by a scoreline of 3-0.
In addition, SAFA has been fined CHF 10,000, while Mokoena received an official warning.
FIFA stated that the parties involved have been notified of the ruling and have ten days to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, will be published on its official website. The governing body also noted that the decision is subject to a possible appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.
