FIFA has sanctioned South Africa by deducting points and imposing a fine for fielding a banned player during the World Cup qualifiers.
After widespread discussion and criticism, FIFA announced the punishment for South Africa. The governing body of world football penalized the team for playing Tebogo Moeketsi, who was suspended for accumulating yellow cards, in a March home match against Lesotho, which South Africa had initially won 2-0.
FIFA stated on Monday that its disciplinary committee found South Africa guilty. The team has been deducted three points and fined 10,000 Swiss francs, and the match result has been officially awarded to Lesotho as a 3-0 victory.
This points deduction has significantly impacted South Africa’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Benin has now taken the top spot in the group. Although both South Africa and Benin have 14 points, Benin leads on goal difference. Group favorites Nigeria are in third with 11 points, level with Rwanda. Only two rounds remain in the qualifiers.
The top team in the group will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the runner-up still has a chance through playoffs—but they will face a tough path.
According to FIFA rules, a player who receives two yellow cards in consecutive matches is automatically suspended for the next game. If a team fields an ineligible player due to suspension, registration issues, nationality, or other reasons, the match may be annulled or recorded as a 3-0 loss, depending on what is worse for the team.
South Africa admitted the mistake but argued that since the opponent did not raise an objection, their points should not have been deducted.
With the qualifiers nearing their end, other teams in the group were eagerly awaiting FIFA’s decision. The delay frustrated Benin coach Gernot Rohr, who publicly expressed his disappointment earlier this month.
It took FIFA nearly seven months to resolve the issue officially.
