South Africa coach Hugo Broos has said they will appeal a three-game ban on their player Themba Zwane for a red card offence in the World Cup opener against Mexico.
Broos named the ban imposed earlier on Wednesday by the governing body FIFA "much, much, much too harsh. Especially when I see what happened yesterday with [Lionel] Messi. I don't approve. It frustrates me."
The FIFA disciplinary committee had imposed the lengthy ban because of the severity of the offence.
Zwane was sent off after a video review for a foul away from the ball on when he illegally raised his arm on Roberto Alvarado.
Argentine Messi was not punished, and there was no review, when he kicked Algeria's Aissa Mandi from behind on the calf and Achilles tendon. Messi went on to complete a hat-trick to tie Miroslav Klose's all time scoring record of 16 World Cup goals.
Broos was speaking ahead of Thursday match against the Czech Republic, who like South Africa against Mexico lost their opener against South Korea.
"The situation is clear. If we don't win the last game against South Korea will be for nothing," he said.
Broos also admitted that he wasn't happy with the performance of his players against Mexico.
"I was criticised that I am too soft. But I don't want to attack my players in public. Sometimes you have to lie in front of the camera," he said.
Broos said he can live with the criticism in South Africa.
"When I achieved qualification they wanted to erect a statue of me. I said they use a wooden one. That's easier to burn down. That's what is happening at the moment," he said.
