FIFA opens case against South Africa over ineligible player
FIFA has officially opened disciplinary proceedings against the South African Football Association (SAFA) for fielding Teboho Mokoena, an ineligible player, during a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in March. According to South African outlet SABC Sport, FIFA confirmed in a letter dated September 15, 2025, that both Mokoena and SAFA face charges of breaching disciplinary regulations, including the fielding of an ineligible player. The case has been referred to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, with SAFA and the player given six days to submit their defence. Mokoena, 28, should have been suspended for the Lesotho match after accumulating two yellow cards earlier in the qualifiers — first against Benin in November 2023 and then against Zimbabwe in June 2024. Under FIFA rules, this automatically triggered a one-match ban. If found guilty, Bafana Bafana could be forced to forfeit the result, […]