Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr has queried FIFA and CAF over their delay in enforcing the three-point deduction against South Africa in the World Cup qualifiers.

The Bafana Bafana fielded Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who had accumulated two yellow cards prior to their 2-0 home victory against Lesotho in March.

Mokoena received his first booking in the qualifiers during South Africa's 2-1 home win against Benin Republic in November 2023.

His second yellow card came during South Africa's 3-1 victory against Zimbabwe in June 2024.

According to FIFA regulations, a player is ineligible to play in the next match after receiving two yellow cards in the World Cup qualifiers—a regulation Hugo Broos' side clearly flouted.

CAF and FIFA are yet to release an official ruling on the matter, leaving the other countries in Group C—including Nigeria, Benin, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe—in limbo about their qualification prospects.

Speaking after Benin's 1-0 victory against Zimbabwe, Rohr, who is Nigeria's former head coach, expressed his dissatisfaction with the delay of the ruling.

“South Africa won against Lesotho? Okay, but the match that matters is the first leg, where they have to lose the three points,” Rohr said, as quoted by Mega Sports.

“It is very clear. The rules are very, very clear. We don’t know why FIFA and CAF haven’t yet decided to take the points away from them.

“It is not normal. We don’t know where we stand. We have 11 points after this match today.”

WDN