South African football legend Benni McCarthy has strongly criticized the South African Football Association (SAFA) after the country was stripped of three crucial points in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers due to an administrative blunder. The sanction has left South Africa’s qualification hopes hanging in the balance, with only two matches remaining in their group.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee recently ruled that South Africa breached regulations by fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena in a March qualifier against Lesotho despite the player being suspended for accumulating two yellow cards. The match, which Bafana Bafana initially won 2-0, was overturned and awarded as a 3-0 victory to Lesotho. In addition, SAFA was fined 10,000 Swiss Francs.
The decision has had a devastating effect on South Africa’s campaign. With two matches left, Benin lead Group C on goal difference, level on 14 points with South Africa, while Nigeria and Rwanda sit just three points behind. Only the group winners qualify automatically, making the loss of points a major setback for Bafana Bafana.
McCarthy, who currently manages Kenya’s national team, expressed deep frustration at the situation, calling for those responsible to face consequences. “If failure comes from administration and not performance, then accountability is non-negotiable,” he said. He emphasized that such errors were unacceptable at this level, particularly in a World Cup qualifying campaign where every point matters.
The incident has caused widespread embarrassment within South African football. Head coach Hugo Broos admitted the team made a serious mistake, while SAFA’s hints at appealing the ruling have drawn criticism from pundits who argue the regulations are clear. Former Kenya international McDonald Mariga added that the blame lies squarely with SAFA officials, not the players. “Players don’t track yellow cards. That’s the job of the administrators. Missing that is pure incompetence,” he stated.
McCarthy went further, insisting that individuals within SAFA must be held accountable. “South Africa haven’t reached the World Cup since 2002. If they miss out again because of administrative failure, heads must roll,” he said firmly.
South Africa must now regroup and win their remaining fixtures against Zimbabwe and Rwanda to keep their hopes alive. The blunder serves as a harsh reminder that off-field mismanagement can be just as damaging as poor performances on the pitch.
