In a ruling that has sent shockwaves through the nation, FIFA has
officially stripped Bafana Bafana of three critical World Cup qualifying
points as punishment for fielding Teboho Mokoena during his suspension in
the match against Lesotho. The consequences are immediate and severe: Hugo
Broos’s squad has been knocked off the top of Group C, plummeting to second
place behind Benin on goal difference.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee not only deducted points but also formally
declared the match a 3-0 forfeit. In addition to this sporting penalty, the
South African Football Association (SAFA) has been hit with a CHF 10,000
fine, while Mokoena received an official warning.
SAFA has publicly acknowledged the ruling but has signaled a fierce
fightback, confirming its intention to appeal what it describes as an
“unprecedented” decision. The association has taken issue with the legal
process, arguing that the sanction was delivered by a single-member panel
without providing reasoned justification and without granting SAFA a fair
opportunity to present its legal arguments.
Yet, for all the legal posturing, a simple, painful truth remains: Bafana
Bafana is once again paying the ultimate price for an inexcusable
administrative failure. SAFA has issued the obligatory apology and called
for national support, but South African fans are weary of this recurring
script. This is not an isolated incident but part of a deeply troubling
pattern.
The memory of past embarrassments lingers fresh in the mind—the Mbombela
fiasco, where victory celebrations turned to ash as procedural failures were
exposed; the capitulation to Senegal, where a replay was meekly accepted
instead of contested; the silence from our officials when Nigeria scored
with a blatant handball in Bloemfontein. A single question screams for an
answer: Why does South African football consistently fail to stand its
ground?
Why do we perpetually appear as the weak link in African football politics?
And why did FIFA’s ruling, on a seemingly straightforward matter, take so
long to arrive, only to deliver a hammer blow at the most critical juncture
of our campaign?
While the immediate blame game will not restore the lost points, the demand
for accountability is non-negotiable. SAFA must do more than reflect; the
individual or individuals responsible for this shocking oversight must be
identified and removed. In a country grappling with scarce employment, such
chronic incompetence that repeatedly sabotages our national ambitions cannot
be tolerated.
The appeal may run its course, but the damage is already done. Once again,
the players and the nation are left to bear the burden of institutional
failure, left asking the same, weary question: When will SAFA finally find
the strength and competence to stand up for South African football?
