A former South African Football Association (SAFA) Chief Executive Officer, Raymond Hack, has poured cold water on hopes that South Africa will succeed in overturning FIFA’s sanction over the Teboho Mokoena saga.
Bafana Bafana were hit with a three-point deduction after fielding Mokoena in their March 21 clash against Lesotho, despite the midfielder being suspended. FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee declared the match forfeited 3–0 in favour of Lesotho, a ruling that has dropped Hugo Broos’ men to second in Group C behind Benin, both teams level on 14 points with two fixtures remaining.
While SAFA has confirmed it will appeal the decision, Hack believes the case is “open-and-shut.”
“I have never, ever heard of a situation where the appeal board overturned a decision regarding an ineligible player. It was an illegal situation. You cannot benefit. That’s the law in any sport,” Hack told ESPN.
He stressed that overturning FIFA’s ruling would undermine fairness:
“If you did something wrong, you can’t reap the benefits. It’s as simple as that. Otherwise, there’s no equity in sport.”
Hack, who previously served on FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, added that the matter is unlikely to drag on:
“It will be quick. Personally, I doubt it will even be heard. You can’t overturn an illegal situation.”
The sanction has piled pressure on Bafana’s qualification hopes, with Benin now holding the advantage on goal difference heading into the final stretch of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.