FIFA Penalizes South Africa: Three Points and Goals Awarded to Lesotho
FIFA has ruled that South Africa will forfeit their 2-0 victory over Lesotho in the World Cup qualifiers due to fielding an ineligible player. As a result, Lesotho will be awarded three points and a 3-0 victory, according to OwnGoalNigeria.com.
South Africa played Theboho Mokoena despite him being suspended for accumulating two yellow cards in previous matches. Football lawyer Jonas Michael confirmed that FIFA’s regulations mandate the deduction of points and goals in such cases.
Michael recalled a similar incident in 2018 when Nigeria lost three points and had three goals awarded against them after fielding Shehu Abdullahi in a dead-rubber qualifier against Algeria. Even without a protest, FIFA enforced the penalty based on its rules.
“The rule is clear—South Africa loses three points and gets three goals deducted. A fine is also expected,” Michael stated, dismissing claims that technicalities could overturn the decision.
This ruling could shake up the group standings, leaving all teams with a fighting chance for World Cup qualification. Despite the penalty, South Africa would remain group leaders, though their margin over bottom-placed Zimbabwe would shrink to just four points with four matches remaining.
