World football’s governing body, FIFA, has confirmed a one-match ban on South African defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi and handed him a hefty fine after he was sent off against Zimbabwe in last month’s World Cup qualifiers.
His dismissal late in the 0-0 draw at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Bafana’s penultimate Group C qualifier was examined by the FIFA disciplinary committee, who confirmed a one-match ban and fined him 5 000 Swiss francs. That is equivalent to R104 000, a figure that the South African Football Association will presumably pay on the 20-year-old’s behalf.
Mbokazi’s punishment was confirmed in a review of all October’s disciplinary sanctions released online by FIFA.
He served his ban against Rwanda in the final qualifier in Nelspruit, where South Africa booked their place at next year’s World Cup finals, and is therefore eligible to play again for the country at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, which kick off in Morocco next month.
Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Knowledge Musona, who was sent off in Durban as well, got the same punishment as Mbokazi – a one-match ban and a 5 000 Swiss francs fine.
FIFA has an automatic one-match ban for a dismissal in World Cup matches, but the disciplinary committee can extend the sanctions if it finds the offence deserved added punishment.
Another ex-Chiefs striker, Bonfils Cale Bimenyimana, was handed a three-match ban after a red card playing for Burundi early in last month’s qualifier against Benni McCarthy’s Kenya.