SOUTH AFRICA LOSES WORLD CUP POINTS

FIFA has announced that South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho will be replaced with a 3-0 defeat. The world football governing body made the decision this week, although the match in question was already played on 21 March in Polokwane.

During the match, Teboho Mokoena was allowed to be substituted even though he had accumulated two yellow cards in two previous matches. By giving Mokoena the chance to play, knowing that he had two yellow cards against him, South Africa violated Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

Not only has Bafana Bafana now lost their points and has moved to second place in Group C of the African qualifiers, but they’re also required to pay a fine of just over R215,000.

Thanks to the ruling against South Africa, Nigeria is now within three points of the top two spots going into the final two rounds of World Cup qualifiers.

According to FIFA’s rules about qualifying for the World Cup, only the nine group winners will qualify automatically. The other four runners-up in every group will go into the play-offs.

The South African Football Association can appeal the outcome of the hearing.

Image credit: The Citizen