By Peter Dansu South Africa has been handed a heavy blow in their World Cup qualifying campaign after FIFA ruled that the team fielded an ...
By Peter Dansu
South Africa has been handed a heavy blow in their World Cup qualifying campaign after FIFA ruled that the team fielded an ineligible player in their match against Lesotho.
The game, played on March 21 in Polokwane, had originally ended in a 2-0 win for Bafana Bafana. However, FIFA on Monday overturned the result, awarding Lesotho a 3-0 victory. The sanction pushes South Africa down to second place in Group C of the African qualifiers, now trailing Benin on goal difference, while Lesotho remain in fifth.
According to FIFA’s disciplinary committee, South Africa breached Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code by fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who should have been suspended after picking up yellow cards in earlier matches against Benin and Zimbabwe.
In addition to the forfeiture, the South African Football Association has been fined 10,000 Swiss francs (about $12,536). The federation still has the option to appeal the decision before FIFA’s Appeals Committee.
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