LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR Lesotho FA has displayed ‘neighbourly compassion’ after it did not lodge a complaint with Fifa over Teboho Mokoena's ineligible participation in a World Cup qualifier match against Bafana Bafana, despite violations of play regulations. Picture: BackpagePix
Image: Backpagepix
With Bafana Bafana’s Fifa World Cup qualifier win over Lesotho still dominating headlines due to Teboho Mokoena’s illegal participation in the match, it has emerged that South Africa’s neighbours may not have wanted to cause a stir.
It’s certainly not the reason that the Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) did not lodge a complaint with Fifa, but it could explain why they did not kick up much fuss.
Mokoena should not have been allowed to play any part in Bafana’s match against Lesotho in Polokwane last week, as he had picked up two yellow cards in his previous qualifier matches against Benin (18 November 2023) and Zimbabwe (11 June 2024).
The error was not picked up in the stipulated timeframe, and fellow World Cup qualifier Group C participants Nigeria were the first to notice the infringement and have complained. However, neither Lesotho nor Nigeria have lodged official protests, while both countries may still hold out hope of Fifa taking action against South Africa.
Lefa secretary general Mokhosi Mohapi told iDiski Times in an exclusive interview: “Everybody should abide by the regulations. Where there are transgressions, it should not be who transgressed, but it should be what should be done when there is a transgression.
“If they decide to give us three points, that will be okay, no problem. If they [Fifa] decide, they are the ones we have the power to do that…
“If you say that you put it as if we want to punish our neighbours, that is far from it.”
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