World football’s governing body FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against South Africa after midfielder Teboho Mokoena featured in a World Cup qualifier despite being suspended.
Mokoena had received yellow cards against Benin in November 2023 and Zimbabwe in June 2024, which triggered a one-match ban. However, he was fielded in Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 victory over Lesotho in March 2025.
According to South African broadcaster SABC, FIFA has charged both the South African Football Association (SAFA) and the player. In a letter dated September 15, 2025, FIFA confirmed the matter has been referred to its Disciplinary Committee, giving SAFA six days to respond.
If found guilty, South Africa would forfeit the match, handing Lesotho a 3-0 win. That ruling would see Bafana Bafana drop from 17 to 14 points in Group C — level with Benin but still top on goal difference. Lesotho would climb to nine points, closing the gap on Nigeria and Rwanda (both on 11 points).
With only two qualifiers left, the group would be thrown wide open, leaving South Africa under pressure to secure results against Zimbabwe and Rwanda in October.
FIFA’s disciplinary code is clear: teams that field ineligible players automatically lose the match 3-0, unless the original result was even worse. The governing body has previously enforced this rule, including against Nigeria in 2018 and Cape Verde in 2013.
SAFA has not yet issued an official response to the charges.