SAFA insiders have told SportsTribune that South Africa will dispute the FIFA ruling.
This penalty, which included a fine of CHF 10,000 and a warning to Teboho Mokoena, dropped Bafana from first to second in Group C, and it revived the qualifying competition.
The FIFA committee decided that South Africa had violated rules regarding player eligibility.
The initial 2-0 win in Johannesburg is now a 3-0 loss by forfeit.
Even though SAFA hasn’t commented, insiders say they’ll ask FIFA for the full “motivated decision.”
SAFA’s legal team is urgently preparing submissions, the insider claims, citing “mitigating circumstances.”
Coach Hugo Broos will see South Africa’s qualification path change with two games left due to the ruling.
Insiders say the technical team is assuming the deduction is final while the executives are focusing on the legal aspect.
FIFA’s verdict and the speed of the appeal hearing will determine if the points are restored.