South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has branded the country’s points deduction from football’s world governing body, FIFA, as an embarrassment and an incident that is deeply regrettable.
He made these comments via an official statement after the South African National Men’s Football Team had to forfeit its 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho on March 21, 2025 by three goals to nil (3-0) for fielding an unqualified player (Teboho Mokoena).
The South African Football Association was also ordered to pay a fine of 9,000 Pounds Sterling and as a result of the deduction, South Africa’s tally has slipped from 17 to 14 and the country’s Sports Minister is far from impressed with the development.
“As the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, I have taken note of the recent decision by FIFA to deduct three points from Bafana Bafana in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.”
“This development is deeply regrettable and has brought embarrassment to our nation and the game of football. This deduction is but a bump in the road, and we believe that we remain firmly on track for qualification; our belief in the team’s ability to succeed is unshaken.”
“The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) will lead a thorough investigation into the incompetence that led to this sanction. We are committed to uncovering the root causes of this failure and ensuring accountability.”
“For now, we urge all South Africans to unite in support of Bafana Bafana. Let us get behind our boys in these critical games. Together, we can and must carry them on our shoulders to the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026” a section of the Sports Minister’s statement read.
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