FIFA has handed the South African Football Association (Safa) a heavy sanction after midfielder Teboho Mokoena was fielded in a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho despite being ineligible.
The governing body confirmed that South Africa must forfeit the match, with Lesotho awarded a 3-0 victory.
SAFA has also been fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£9,000), while Mokoena himself received a formal warning.
In a statement on Monday, FIFA said the ruling had already been communicated to the parties involved.
“The parties were notified of the terms of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision today,” it read, while outlining that Safa has ten days to request a detailed verdict.
The case may still be escalated, with the decision subject to appeal before FIFA’s Appeal Committee. For now, though, Lesotho are the beneficiaries, and South Africa’s qualifying campaign has taken a damaging blow.
