Lesotho FA Writes FIFA, Demands Explanation Amid Calls for Sanctions Against South Africa
- The Lesotho Football Association has formally written to FIFA, alleging that South Africa fielded an ineligible player in the World Cup qualifiers
- Bafana Bafana breached the FIFA disciplinary code, which mandates a suspension for Teboho Mokoena, who has received two prior yellow cards
- LFA emphasised the need to uphold the game's integrity, while Nigeria and Benin are urging FIFA to make its decision swiftly
The secretary general of the Lesotho Football Association, Mokhosi Mohapi, has confirmed that a letter has been written to FIFA after South Africa fielded an ineligible player against the Crocodiles.
Mohapi disclosed that there was an infraction in the regulations after Teboho Mokoena was fielded when Bafana Bafana defeated the Crocodiles 2-0 in March.
The FIFA disciplinary code stipulates that a player who has received yellow cards in two previous matches is automatically suspended in the next game.
Source: Getty Images
Any team that breaches the article may forfeit three points, three goals and will be fined CHF 6000.
Following the conclusion of Match Day 8 in the qualification series, South Africa lead CAF group C with 17 points, Benin are second with 14 points, while three-time African champions, Nigeria, are third with 11 points.
Nigeria and Benin are calling on the world's football governing body, FIFA, to sanction South Africa, with coach Gernot Rohr stating that the silence is brewing anxiety, per Reuters.
Meanwhile, Lesotho FA boss Mohapi noted that FIFA must protect the integrity of the game.
Mohapi told Newsroom Afrika:
"We wrote to the competitions department of FIFA and we asked, can you look into this because as far as we are concerned, there is an infraction in the regulations?
"The gentleman who got himself in two different matches, you are supposed to enforce the suspension because it (the rule) says a player and official who gets two yellow cards shall be automatically suspended.
"So now who should suspend a player? Is it us as the Lesotho Football Association? Is it the South African Football Association or is it FIFA?
As per Al Jazeera, Lesotho are currently 5th on the table with 6 points, but they could move to 9 should South Africa be sanctioned.
Mohapi, however, admitted that the time to lodge a protest had passed.
"We can't lodge a protest because we are time-barred because of Article 8.3 because it ought to have happened two hours after the match through the match commissioner, or within 24 hours of the match to the FIFA disciplinary committee.
"However, I know there could be a counter from SAFA, we were expecting that FIFA would communicate with us.
"However, they should also manage their inventory of cautions because they write their reports.
"What we are contending is....on our own volition, we cannot suspend a South Africa player, but the organisers of the competition have the duty to protect the regulations and the sport."
Source: Getty Images
South Africa not cleared
Legit.ng earlier reported that the director of communications of the Nigerian Football Federation has disclosed that FIFA has not cleared South Africa.
Olajire debunked insinuations, stating that they have yet to receive any official communication from FIFA on the matter.
Source: Legit.ng
