FIFA Opens Disciplinary Process Against SAFA and Midfielder Teboho Mokoena Over Yellow Card Case
- FIFA has reportedly launched disciplinary proceedings involving SAFA and Teboho Mokoena over a controversial incident in a recent match
- The matter has been referred to a FIFA Disciplinary Committee, with both the player and the association given a limited time to respond, leaving the outcome uncertain
- The situation has sparked debates among other African football associations, raising questions about potential consequences for upcoming qualifiers
FIFA has reportedly opened disciplinary proceedings against SAFA and Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena over the contentious yellow card incident in March, when he played against Lesotho despite having accumulated two yellow cards that should have made him ineligible.
Lesotho, however, failed to protest within the required 48 hours. Despite this, rivals Nigeria and Benin have continued to push for action against South Africa.
Source: Getty Images
According to SABC Sport, FIFA has officially launched a case against South Africa. A letter dated 15 September, seen by the SABC, confirms that both the player and the association face charges for multiple disciplinary breaches, including fielding an ineligible player.
The case has been referred to a FIFA Disciplinary Committee with Mokoena and SAFA given 6 days to respond.
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Bafana currently lead Group C by three points over Benin. A potential points deduction would level the standings and set up a decisive clash between the two sides in Bloemfontein in the final round of qualifiers.
SAFA is yet to release an official statement to the public on the matter.
Source: Getty Images
What do FIFA rules say on the issue?
According to FIFA rules, protests must be filed within 24 hours of a match. Lesotho only submitted its several days later, raising doubts about its validity.
The matter gained further traction when the Benin Football Federation lodged an informal complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) via social media.
Both CAF and FIFA have yet to clarify the situation, with Nigeria being the most vocal in demanding a points deduction.
As seen in the tweet below:
FIFA has previously sanctioned African nations, including Ethiopia and Nigeria, for similar breaches, while Congo-Brazzaville was suspended in February 2025 due to third-party interference in its football federation.
Recently, Equatorial Guinea was docked six points for fielding an ineligible player during the World Cup qualifiers, setting a potential precedent for similar cases.
Take a look at the tweet below:
Court of Arbitration for Sports attorney outspoken on the matter
Raymond Hack, former SAFA chief executive and current attorney at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, was also outspoken on the matter:
"The rules are very clear: a player cannot take part if suspended. The responsibility lies with both the team and the player. Somebody dropped the ball. But it’s not just the officials; the player also has a duty. He is a professional, playing for his country bringing the team into disrepute is unacceptable."
Sports Minister speaks on the Teboho Mokoena issue
Briefly News previously reported that Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie weighed in on the controversial issue surrounding Bafana Bafana’s possible points deduction by FIFA.
He posted tweets on his official social media account and shared the rules of FIFA. He was responding to a tweet by Benin.
Source: Briefly News
