Blantyre, Malawi, May 15: Malawi’s topflight league governing body, Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has heavily fined Red Lions Football Club and slapped lengthy suspension to its eight players and official for causing violence.
The league’s Disciplinary Committee issued the verdict in a statement released late Thursday following its Wednesday emergency meeting that deliberated on the matter.
The Committee, among others found Red Lions FC guilty for violating Article 21.3 of the Rules and Regulations of the TNM Super League and slapped it with a fine of K450, 000 for failing to control actions of its players, officials and fans.
The league’s Disciplinary Committee issued the verdict in a statement released late Thursday following its Wednesday emergency meeting that deliberated on the matter.
The Committee, among others found Red Lions FC guilty for violating Article 21.3 of the Rules and Regulations of the TNM Super League and slapped it with a fine of K450, 000 for failing to control actions of its players, officials and fans.
Red Lions players, official and supporters assaulted officiating personnel and some members of the general public last week at Kamuzu Stadium after their league game against rookies Surestream FC which ended in a controversial two-all draw.
The league’s governing body has also sternly warned the Malawi Defence Force sponsored side (Red Lions) that it risks a tougher punishment if it is involved in a similar conduct in the next couple of years.
“The club is given a serious warning for any improper conduct. If in the next two years it is involved in any misconduct of the same nature it risks being banned indefinitely,” the statement partly reads.
The club’s players, Dickson Mbetewa Jnr and Lot Chawinga who assaulted referee, Boniface Chapinga have been banned for twelve months for falling foul of Article 49.1.b of FIFA Disciplinary Code and fined each MK350,000.
While Boniface Kaulesi, William Chiumya, Mathews Simbeye, George Haule, Thomas Makaombwa and Sunganani Msiska have each been given six months ban and fined each MK350, 000 for the same.
According to the Sulom statement, Lions officials accepted charges on the six players (Kaulesi, Chiumya, Simbeye, Haule, Makaombwa and Msiska) with reservations claiming they did not assault the ref.
“However, the overwhelming evidence that the committee received from different sources indicated that these six players did assault the referee with the other two players (Mbetewa Jnr and Chawinga) being in the forefront of the assault,” the statement reads.
Red Lions Team Doctor, Gibson Longwe has also been given a twelve month ban from the touchline and dressing room for taking part in the assault of the referee and has further been fined MK300, 000.
Sulom statement further disclosed that Lions officials were remorseful and apologetic when they appeared before the committee and has also taken disciplinary action against the players involved in the assault.
The bans will take effect from the 13th May and the club has been told to pay the fine before their next game on 17th May.
The Reds players and sympathisers accused officiating personnel led by referee Chapinga for being biased against them.
They cited two goals the rookies netted from the spot kick that eventually enabled the rookies to snatch a point from the jaws of defeat and the rejection of their own three penalty appeals.
Soon after the ref blew the final whistle, some Lions players and their official descended on the officiating personnel which angered a section of spectators who started pelting the pitch with all sorts of missiles.
The Lions players had to seek refuge in the dressing room to flee the wrath of the angry spectators who laid siege on the dressing room and in the course of the fracas smashed their Bus windscreens and windows.
Soldiers based at nearby, Chichiri Army Camp in Blantyre quickly mobilised and came to the rescue of the besieged Lions players and officials.
However according, to local media reports the angry soldiers severely beat up every person they encountered on the way within the vicinity of the Stadium.
Meanwhile, a 24 year-old soccer fan, Geoffrey Mwale who lost consciousness after being severely beaten by alleged soldiers has reportedly regained consciousness at Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was taken after the Sunday fracas.
The league’s governing body has also sternly warned the Malawi Defence Force sponsored side (Red Lions) that it risks a tougher punishment if it is involved in a similar conduct in the next couple of years.
“The club is given a serious warning for any improper conduct. If in the next two years it is involved in any misconduct of the same nature it risks being banned indefinitely,” the statement partly reads.
The club’s players, Dickson Mbetewa Jnr and Lot Chawinga who assaulted referee, Boniface Chapinga have been banned for twelve months for falling foul of Article 49.1.b of FIFA Disciplinary Code and fined each MK350,000.
While Boniface Kaulesi, William Chiumya, Mathews Simbeye, George Haule, Thomas Makaombwa and Sunganani Msiska have each been given six months ban and fined each MK350, 000 for the same.
According to the Sulom statement, Lions officials accepted charges on the six players (Kaulesi, Chiumya, Simbeye, Haule, Makaombwa and Msiska) with reservations claiming they did not assault the ref.
“However, the overwhelming evidence that the committee received from different sources indicated that these six players did assault the referee with the other two players (Mbetewa Jnr and Chawinga) being in the forefront of the assault,” the statement reads.
Red Lions Team Doctor, Gibson Longwe has also been given a twelve month ban from the touchline and dressing room for taking part in the assault of the referee and has further been fined MK300, 000.
Sulom statement further disclosed that Lions officials were remorseful and apologetic when they appeared before the committee and has also taken disciplinary action against the players involved in the assault.
The bans will take effect from the 13th May and the club has been told to pay the fine before their next game on 17th May.
The Reds players and sympathisers accused officiating personnel led by referee Chapinga for being biased against them.
They cited two goals the rookies netted from the spot kick that eventually enabled the rookies to snatch a point from the jaws of defeat and the rejection of their own three penalty appeals.
Soon after the ref blew the final whistle, some Lions players and their official descended on the officiating personnel which angered a section of spectators who started pelting the pitch with all sorts of missiles.
The Lions players had to seek refuge in the dressing room to flee the wrath of the angry spectators who laid siege on the dressing room and in the course of the fracas smashed their Bus windscreens and windows.
Soldiers based at nearby, Chichiri Army Camp in Blantyre quickly mobilised and came to the rescue of the besieged Lions players and officials.
However according, to local media reports the angry soldiers severely beat up every person they encountered on the way within the vicinity of the Stadium.
Meanwhile, a 24 year-old soccer fan, Geoffrey Mwale who lost consciousness after being severely beaten by alleged soldiers has reportedly regained consciousness at Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was taken after the Sunday fracas.
By: Joel Chirwa
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