FIFA will award three points and three goals to Lesotho after South Africa fielded an ineligible player in the 0-2 win when both teams met in the world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
South Africa fielded Theboho Mokoena when he was supposed to be suspended after picking up two yellow cards in previous games. A punishment that will see them lose all three points and also have three goals awarded against them according to football lawyer Jonas Michael.
Michael said Nigeria suffered the same fate in 2018 against Algeria, who were awarded three points and three goals when Nigeria fielded an ineligible player in Shehu Abdullahi in a dead rubber world cup qualifiers game. The Algerians didn’t file a protest but FIFA took the decision in accordance with the rules of the world cup qualifiers.
” If you are a South African just deduct three points from your team’s tally and I expect people from Lesotho to also do the same. It’s not even about protest or a specific time for a protest to be lodged. The rule is clearly spelt out by FIFA and the punishment as well”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
” I see a lot of people in South Africa talking about technicalities giving them an edge. That is not true and I believe their association are very aware of it. They have lost that point and will be deducted three goals. A fine will also be hammered on them”, he concluded.
If it happens, it will throw the group wide open again leaving all of the teams in the group with a chance of making it to the world cup, as Zimbabwe who will be the bottom team will be just four points behind South Africa who will retain their spot as leaders with four matches to go.
Source: Own Goal Nigeria
