Gayton McKenzie's Response to Bafana Bafana Controversy Sparks Outrage
- The Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister reacted to the controversy with a cryptic post that failed to address SAFA’s responsibility, frustrating many South Africans
- Netizens criticized McKenzie for not holding SAFA accountable, with many calling out his lack of leadership and deflecting blame from the real issue
- While FIFA has yet to issue a ruling, fans are demanding answers from SAFA regarding how Teboho Mokoena was fielded despite being ineligible
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Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has reacted to the Teboho Mokoena controversy with a statement that says very little.
Source: Twitter
His cryptic post on X (formerly Twitter), failed to address the real issue—how Bafana Bafana fielded an ineligible player.
Instead of demanding accountability from SAFA, McKenzie’s vague response left netizens frustrated, with many calling him out for not taking the matter seriously.
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Social Media Backlash
Fans and football enthusiasts wasted no time expressing their frustration over McKenzie’s post:
Macca:
Leave Lesotho alone and blame people who are really responsible for what happened.
Nkululeko:
Lesotho must be kicked out from using our stadium and facilities for free!
Giant:
If they lodge a complaint, they can play their games in Botswana or Mozambique or Nigeria… and we will close the Zama Zama holes illegal mining that contributes to their GDP.
Senior:
Fire that SAFA Mafia urgently.
The Guy:
HEbanna Gayton, this is not on Lesotho but your department not doing the necessary checks.
Poverty Killer:
A whole minister! A whole minister! I personally regret supporting you.
Thuksi:
Wait for the official statement from FIFA or are you confirming that Lesotho put a complaint?
Ntwana:
Shifting the blame, who’s supposed to ensure we field eligible players? 😡
The Franzicer:
Lesotho did nothing wrong, blame your people (SAFA).”
Mr Thizozo:
LESOTHO not wrong!! Find the person responsible for this there at Bafana Bafana.
Brown Sugar
The team Manager (Vincent Tseka) needs to take the blame here, there are enough options in Tebza’s position. This could’ve easily been avoided.This is just poor planning all round!
Kevin Nxumalo
Well within their rights. People earn a lot of money but fail to do a very simple job
Dave
Leave Lesotho alone, they are not the ones who selected an illegible player and played him, it's on your Team Manager @tseka_vincent. A pure incompetence.
Jinyiyasi
To be fair rules are rules clean your backyard, this is embarrassing and a serious wake up call
Source: UGC
Who Should Be Held Accountable?
With FIFA yet to make an official ruling, fans are demanding answers.
The spotlight is now on SAFA to explain how such an oversight occurred, and whether any officials will take responsibility.
What FIFA disciplinary code says
The FIFA Disciplinary Code states that “if a person receives a caution in two separate matches of the same FIFA competition, they are automatically suspended from the next match in that competition.”
This implies that Mokoena was not eligible to participate in the Lesotho match.
Additionally, the code clarifies that “cautions received during one competition are not carried over to another competition,” meaning his yellow cards from World Cup qualifiers were not reset by playing in AFCON qualifiers.
However, for disciplinary action to be taken, FIFA’s regulations require that protests be submitted in writing to the Disciplinary Committee within 24 hours of the match, a move Lesotho FA failed to do.
According to the rule, the complaint must be based on the participation of an ineligible player who failed to meet FIFA’s eligibility requirements. In such cases, FIFA’s judicial body “may impose any appropriate disciplinary measures.”
However, Lesotho did not file a formal protest, so it remains uncertain whether FIFA will take action on its own.
Bafana Bafana Dodges Points Deduction After Mokoena Suspension Controversy
Briefly News previously reported that Bafana Bafana may avoid a points deduction after a controversial incident involving Teboho Mokoena.
Mokoena played in South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho on March 21, 2025, despite having accumulated two yellow cards in earlier World Cup qualifiers, which should have resulted in a suspension.
However, Lesotho missed the 24-hour window to file a formal protest, potentially saving South Africa from penalties. Fans expressed outrage over the oversight, urging SAFA to prevent such mistakes in the future.
Nomso Obiajuru was a contributing writer in this article
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Source: Briefly News
