FIFA Laws: Official Document Gives Clear Stance on Fielding Ineligible Player
- The FIFA disciplinary code has specific sanctions for teams that field an ineligible player during an official match
- There are calls for the world's football governing body to strip South Africa of 3 points and 3 goals in the World Cup qualifiers
- Teboho Mokoena, who had received yellow cards in two consecutive matches, featured in Bafana Bafana's win over Lesotho in March
With the FIFA World Cup qualifiers reaching the final phase, tension is heightened in the CAF qualification Group C as teams await a decision from the world's football governing body.
South Africa fielded an ineligible player in their 2-0 win over Lesotho in March, and competing teams are demanding sanctions.
Bafana Bafana top the group with 16 points ahead of their fixture against the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, September 9.
Source: Getty Images
Benin are second with 11 points while Nigeria are third with 10 points. Rwanda are fourth with 8 points, Lesotho have 6 points in fifth position, and then Zimbabwe remain at rock bottom with 4 points.
Meanwhile, Nigeria and Benin are leading the push for FIFA to deduct 3 points and 3 goals from South Africa and award it to Lesotho.
Teboho Mokoena was ineligible for that game in March, having received yellow cards in two previous matches.
More than six months after the incident, there is no official statement from the world's football governing body on whether South Africa will be sanctioned.
Benin head coach Gernot Rohr has maintained that FIFA cannot continue to remain mute about the situation. Rohr said via Daily Post:
"It is very clear. The rules are very, very clear. We don’t know why FIFA and CAF haven’t yet decided to take the points away from them.
"It is not normal. We don’t know where we stand. We have 11 points after this match today. South Africa has to lose three points and then we will be only two points behind our opponent.
"What are they waiting for? I don’t know. It is incomprehensible."
Meanwhile, FIFA's rules regarding the fielding of ineligible players and the associated sanctions, such as forfeiting matches, have been part of its Disciplinary Code for many years.
The specific provision for forfeiting a match due to fielding an ineligible player is explicitly outlined in the FIFA Disciplinary Code, with the 2011 edition.
It reads:
"Pursuant to Article 55.1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, a team which fields an ineligible player in an official match is sanctioned by forfeiting the match and paying a minimum fine of CHF 6,000 (about $7,500).
"This is corroborated by Article 8.2 of the OFT Regulations, which states that “(…) any team found guilty of fielding an ineligible player (…) shall forfeit the match in question (…)”.
FIFA's disciplinary code mandates that a player receiving two yellow cards in separate matches must serve a one-match suspension. Mokoena's participation against Lesotho, despite his prior bookings, constitutes a violation of this rule.
Source: Getty Images
Tortoise predicts outcome of Nigeria vs South Africa
Legit.ng earlier reported that a tortoise has tipped Nigeria to score two goals against South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on September 9.
According to Sports247, the 196-year-old creature chose the number of goals when visitors placed a marker representing the West African country.
Source: Legit.ng
