By: Joel Chirwa
Lilongwe, January 6: Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has referred back to Super League of Malawi (Sulom) Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers case against league’s Disciplinary Committee verdict that found the two clubs guilty of causing violence.
FAM Chief Executive Officer, Suzgo Nyirenda said the FA decided to refer the case back to the league governing body after noting that the clubs involved in the case had not exhausted all channels of resolution within the league’s structures.
“We cannot intervene into the matter at this moment because the [aggrieved] teams have not exhausted all channels of resolution of the matter.
FAM Chief Executive Officer, Suzgo Nyirenda said the FA decided to refer the case back to the league governing body after noting that the clubs involved in the case had not exhausted all channels of resolution within the league’s structures.
“We cannot intervene into the matter at this moment because the [aggrieved] teams have not exhausted all channels of resolution of the matter.
There is an appeal committee [within Sulom’s structures] to which they would have taken the case before coming to us. Once they are not satisfied with the appeal committee decision, it’s when they would have taken the matter to us,” explained Nyirenda.
Last week Sulom Disciplinary Committee found the two clubs guilty of causing and inciting crowd trouble at Balaka Stadium during the championship decider on 28 December 2013, the incident which claimed one life and left scores injured.
Defending champions, Silver Strikers were slapped with eight months ban with K2.950 million (US$6860.67) while Wanderers were fined K750, 000(US$1627.95) plus five months ban.
But both clubs rejected the Disciplinary Committee verdict and appealed to FAM saying the punishment was excessive and did not look thoroughly into all aspects that led and sparked the violence.
Reaction to the FA latest decision to refer the case back to the league governing body has been mixed.
Silver Strikers General Secretary, Mike Tembo said his club will submit their appeal as advised by the soccer governing body.
But Wanderers General Secretary, David Kanyenda is reported to have told local media on Monday that his club is going to consult to come up with appropriate response to the latest development.
Both clubs justified their appeal to the (FA) ignoring the league Appeal Committee because according to them had lost confidence in the leagues governing body.
Following the Sulom Disciplinary Committee verdict Wanderers threatened to stage street protests to call for Sulom’s committee ouster and government intervention into the matter.
Meanwhile Sulom’s General Secretary, Williams Banda told Malawi Institute of Journalism Radio (MIJ FM) Monday that his organization will seek FAM direction on the matter since the 48 hour appeal period the two clubs were given had expired.
“The two clubs were given 48 hours to appeal if they were not satisfied with the verdict of the disciplinary committee. Both clubs did not submit their cases to the Appeal Committee.
We will seek FAM direction on the way forward because the 48 hour period they were given to appeal expired,” he said.
Last week Sulom Disciplinary Committee found the two clubs guilty of causing and inciting crowd trouble at Balaka Stadium during the championship decider on 28 December 2013, the incident which claimed one life and left scores injured.
Defending champions, Silver Strikers were slapped with eight months ban with K2.950 million (US$6860.67) while Wanderers were fined K750, 000(US$1627.95) plus five months ban.
But both clubs rejected the Disciplinary Committee verdict and appealed to FAM saying the punishment was excessive and did not look thoroughly into all aspects that led and sparked the violence.
Reaction to the FA latest decision to refer the case back to the league governing body has been mixed.
Silver Strikers General Secretary, Mike Tembo said his club will submit their appeal as advised by the soccer governing body.
But Wanderers General Secretary, David Kanyenda is reported to have told local media on Monday that his club is going to consult to come up with appropriate response to the latest development.
Both clubs justified their appeal to the (FA) ignoring the league Appeal Committee because according to them had lost confidence in the leagues governing body.
Following the Sulom Disciplinary Committee verdict Wanderers threatened to stage street protests to call for Sulom’s committee ouster and government intervention into the matter.
Meanwhile Sulom’s General Secretary, Williams Banda told Malawi Institute of Journalism Radio (MIJ FM) Monday that his organization will seek FAM direction on the matter since the 48 hour appeal period the two clubs were given had expired.
“The two clubs were given 48 hours to appeal if they were not satisfied with the verdict of the disciplinary committee. Both clubs did not submit their cases to the Appeal Committee.
We will seek FAM direction on the way forward because the 48 hour period they were given to appeal expired,” he said.
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