FIFA Punishes South Africa for Regulatory Error

FIFA confirmed that South Africa has been docked three points in the World Cup qualifying standings after fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena illegally in their 2-0 win over Lesotho in March.

The governing body determined that Mokoena should have been suspended for that match after receiving two yellow cards in previous Group C games. As a result, the match has been awarded as a 3-0 victory to Lesotho, while the South African federation has also been fined 10,000 Swiss francs (approximately $12,500 USD).

This ruling leaves South Africa tied with Benin on 14 points, but behind on goal difference, with only two matches remaining in the group stage.

Tight Standings and Crucial Fixtures Ahead

With the sanction in place, Benin now leads Group C, while Nigeria remains within striking distance, three points behind Rwanda. Only the group winners qualify directly for the World Cup, while the second-place teams face a grueling playoff path for a possible spot.

The upcoming matches will be decisive: on October 10, Benin will visit Rwanda, Lesotho will host Nigeria, and South Africa will face Zimbabwe. Four days later, on October 14, South Africa will host Rwanda in their final qualifier, while Benin travels to Nigeria for a potentially decisive clash.

Head coach Hugo Broos admitted the federation’s mistake: “We did something we shouldn’t have done. It was an error that could cost us dearly.”

FIFA Criticized for Slow Response

Although South Africa’s violation was clear, FIFA has come under fire for its slow handling of the case — nearly seven months passed between the match and the final ruling. Coaches such as Gernot Rohr, who leads Benin, criticized the lack of clarity before key qualifiers, which left the group standings uncertain for months.

Similar incidents have happened before. In 2018, Nigeria was penalized for fielding Shehu Abdullahi, and in 2014, Cape Verde was disqualified for using Fernando Varela while he was suspended.

A Blow That Could End World Cup Dreams

Losing these points is more than just a bureaucratic setback — it could knock South Africa out of World Cup contention in a fiercely competitive group. With two crucial matches left, the margin for error is razor-thin, and any slip-up could seal their fate.