CAPE TOWN – FIFA Disciplinary Committee has officially handed down sanctions to the South African Football Association (SAFA) after it was found guilty of fielding ineligible midfielder Teboho Mokoena during a match in the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition.
FIFA has imposed sanctions on SAFA after it was found to have fielded Mokoena during the match between Bafana Bafana and Lesotho on 21 March 2025.
According to the world football governing body, SAFA was deemed to have breached article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) as well as article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations.
Consequently, the FIFA 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 Mokoena has been issued with a warning,”said FIFA statement.
“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.”
