Lesotho have withdrawn their protest against South Africa for fielding a suspended player in their 2026 World Cup qualifying clash, but SCORENigeria findings have shown that even without a complaint FIFA could still sanction Bafana Bafana for breaching their rules.
Lesotho FA secretary general said: “When we red the regulations, we realised that the issue of time bar will be an obstacle to us, so we decided to cancel it (protest),” he said.
However, further checks have revealed that no protests are needed for FIFA to sanction South Africa because the regulations are self-enforcing.
A sub section of Article 8 said that sanctions could be imposed even without a complaint.
“IF a protest doesn’t follow the rules, it will be ignored,” it read in part.
“However, FIFA Disciplinary Committee can still investifate and punish a wrong doing on its own, even of no official protest was made.”
Sports lawyer Amobi Ezeku confirmed this assertion.
There suggestions that the protest withdrawal was caused by “COSAFA politics” as both South Africa and Lesotho are in the same sub-region.
South Africa fielded midfielder Teboho Mokoena on Matchday 1 and 4 and ought to have missed the Matchday 5 clash against Lesotho this month, but instead played.
He did not play against Benin in Abidjan Tuesday.
Top Nigerian officials have vowed to ensure South Africa re docked three points and three goals for breaching the rules.
By Aboluwade God’s Treasure
In other word dey shifted the rule to Tuesday. To make amend for the game against Lesotho.
Now that dey have done the right thing we in fifa can let Dem off the hook . .
The journalism is poor. While we Nigerians are hoping (if you ask me ) against hope, for FIFA sanctioning south Africa on deduction of points, you have failed to state that points deductions is an option as well as monetary fine and suspension of the player.
It’s not stated that points deductions is a must after all, the protest was made outside the stipulated time and for the withdrawal that has just happened, quote me, if any sanction shall be imposed against bafana bafana, will be player suspension or monetary fine.
Let the super eagles find their rhythm and start winning matches and stop looking forward to board room help.
Nonsense.
Your arguments holds no water. There are precedents. The punishment has ALWAYS INVOLVED points DEDUCTION whether complaints are made or NOT. https://briefly.co.za/sports/football/212730-sa-lose-3-points-how-fifa-punished-nigeria-1-country-similar-mokoena-blunder/