‘It’s Ending in Tears’ – South Africa fans react to FIFA’s punishment

FIFA’s ruling to dock South Africa three points for fielding Teboho Mokoena while suspended has shocked the football community, and Bafana Bafana fans have taken to social media to share their opinions.

From optimism to outrage, the reactions paint a vivid picture of a nation stunned by a clerical mistake that now threatens their World Cup dream.

For some, there’s still an unshakable belief in Hugo Broos’ project. Many insist that even with the setback, Bafana Bafana will climb back and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Supporters see the October fixtures as the true test, convinced that the so-called “Broos Generation” will not be stopped by a paperwork error.

South Africa deducted three points in 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Others, however, are furious. A large section of fans blame SAFA, insisting that someone should have flagged Mokoena’s yellow-card accumulation before it came to this.

To them, the blunder is a sign of negligence at the top, and calls for heads to roll are growing louder.

There’s also a grim sense of resignation among some supporters. For them, the punishment is the death knell of the campaign, and the feeling is that South Africa’s hopes of reaching the USA in 2026 are already over.

The ruling has fueled despair, with some admitting they never believed qualification was possible in the first place.

Meanwhile, others have resorted to gallows humor, pointing to rival nations who will be celebrating South Africa’s misery.

Zimbabwe and Nigeria have been name-dropped as potential beneficiaries, with fans imagining jubilant street parades outside the country while South Africans are left to suffer.

Amid all the noise, one consensus does emerge: Bafana Bafana now have no margin for error.

Read some of the reactions below:

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