The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) has docked three points from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player during their World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in March.
Although Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena should have been suspended, having accumulated two yellow cards, he featured in the team that beat Lesotho 2-0 in Polokwane, Limpopo.
The international self-regulatory body said the decision to field Mokoena breached article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 M Preliminary Competition Regulations.
Following FIFA’s decision, the 2-0 win against Lesotho has been overturned, and the match is now recorded as a 3-0 victory for the neighbouring country.
SA’s national football team, Bafana Bafana, was at the top of the Group C log with 17 points, having played eight games.
South Africa drops three points, losing their top spot in Group C, and Benin is now the leading team with 17 points.
FIFA’s decision comes just days ahead of Bafana’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe, which South Africa must win. The match will be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on 10 October.
