The integrity of football governance depends not only on what decisions are made but how fairly and consistently those decisions are applied. As the FIFA Disciplinary Committee considers the controversy surrounding South Africa’s alleged fielding of an ineligible player, Thibo Mokwena, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, it must resist any temptation to allow political proximity or continental alliances to undermine impartiality.
Reports suggest that FIFA President Gianni Infantino maintains a close relationship with CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who hails from South Africa. While friendships and professional alliances are common in sports administration, they must never interfere with the sanctity of judicial processes within the game. Any perception that Infantino’s closeness to Motsepe is influencing disciplinary decisions threatens to damage FIFA’s credibility and raise concerns about the rule of law in global football.
Concerns over this relationship are not unfounded. According to reports from Jörg Strohschein of Deutsche Welle (DW), on December 3, 2021, it was alleged that Infantino played a significant role in Patrice Motsepe’s emergence as CAF President, after other candidates reportedly withdrew from the race in exchange for promises of future position reportedly brokered through the FIFA president.
Critics at the time accused Infantino of “recolonizing” African football through behind the scenes maneuvering. If these allegations are true, then the possibility of decisions being unduly influenced becomes much more credible, especially in cases where CAF and South African interests are concerned.
This concern is amplified by the memory of how swiftly and decisively the same FIFA Disciplinary Committee acted in 2017 when Nigeria was found to have fielded an ineligible player, Shehu Abdullahi in a World Cup qualifier against Algeria. Although Nigeria had already secured qualification for the 2018 tournament, FIFA wasted no time in docking a point and imposing a fine on the Super Eagles. That decision, while painful, was accepted in the spirit of fairness and in accordance with the rules.
If consistency is a principle FIFA claims to uphold, South Africa must not be granted special treatment. The rules regarding player eligibility are not flexible tools to be bent in favour of certain nations. They are standards meant to ensure equity, discipline, and respect for the game.
Seeing how swift CAF was to suspend a top refereeing official just days after the Moroccan FA filed a petition, one cannot help but wonder: why is FIFA taking so long to issue a final ruling on Thibo Mokwena’s ineligibility case despite the incontestable facts against the player? Could it be that nothing is being done?
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The Disciplinary Committee must now show the world that justice is not selective. If Thibo Mokwena was indeed ineligible, whether due to registration, suspension, or administrative error, then the appropriate sanctions must follow, just as they did with Nigeria.
Football fans across Africa and beyond are watching. The sport does not belong to political blocs or favoured federations; it belongs to the people, and they deserve a game governed by truth, transparency, and consistency.
