With question marks still surrounding the technicality of Teboho Mokoena's alleged FIFA breach for Bafana Bafana, a lawyer has explained the legal procedures.
Bafana Bafana appeared to have shot themselves in the foot, after fielding Mokoena, who was ineligible against Lesotho having picked up two yellow cards prior in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
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Questions have remained around whose responsibility it is to put up a protest or lodge a legal complaint and what the timeframes are for FIFA to take into consideration the breach.
Lesedi Mphahlele, Attorney and Director at Fairbridges Wertheim Becker Attorneys, has clarified.
"Whilst Bafana Bafana may have allegedly breached the FIFA regulations, there are set procedures in terms of which breaches of the same nature must be reported to the world governing body of football, FIFA," Mphahlele wrote, exclusively to KickOff.com.
"In light of this alleged breach, the question that begs is which party carried the primary obligation to report the said breach and within which time period.
"Rule 18(1) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code provides that associations and their clubs are entitled to lodge protests."
Mphahlele revealed that Lesotho had a 24-hour timeframe to lodge a protest against Mokoena being ineligible, which they did not do.
"Protests must reach the Disciplinary Committee in writing via the FIFA Legal Portal, indicating the relevant grounds, within 24 hours of the end of the match in question.
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"Rule 18(2) further provides that the 24-hour time limit cannot be extended.
"Accordingly, Lesotho had 24 hours to lodge its protest, which it did not, and therefore was out of time.
"The FIFA Disciplinary Code in this respect makes no room for an application for condonation of the late lodgement of a protest," Mphahlele added.