Fam summons Nchalo United, banned referees to testify
Southern Region Football Association Premier Division side, Nchalo United, have been summoned to a disciplinary hearing on Saturday next week, over allegations of match-fixing during the team’s Carlsberg Cup match against Chitipa United.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) General Secretary, Alfred Gunda, said banned officials have also been invited to the hearing at Mpira Village in Chiwembe Township in Blantyre, as witnesses.
“We want to get to the root of what happened. We want the country’s football fraternity to learn from this process. Everyone, who was involved in what happened on that day will be called to give their side of the story,” Gunda said.
Some Nchalo officials are alleged to have offered K15,000 to panel of referees—Aziz Nyirenda, Limbani Chisambi, Stephano Gomani—to influence the result of the match at Mzuzu Stadium recently.
Innocent Phiri, who was earlier implicated, was cleared of wrong doing.
Nyirenda, Chisambi and Gomani have denied wrong doing, claiming that it was fellow referee Jimmy Phiri—who was not on duty—who allegedly received the money.
National Referees Association banned the referees for life.
Gunda said the disciplinary committee would also review the life time ban which the National Referees Association imposed on the referees.
“We would like to set a precedent. People must think twice before they connive to fix matches or indulge in other malpractices that bring the game into disrepute. We want to root out all evils that are damaging the image of the beautiful game in the country,” he said.
Nchalo Chairperson, Peter Chiipanthenga, said the club was ready for the hearing.
“We are treating this as a mere fact-finding exercise on the part of Fam. They are simply trying to get the facts of the matter before they come up with their determination. So, we will send our representatives to the hearing,” Chiipanthenga said.
The saga has brought into question the reputation of most referees, whose performance is usually brought into question by most teams during and after matches.
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