Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have responded to charges levelled against them by Football Association of Malawi (Fam) following a determination by the association’s disciplinary committee (DC).
The charges relate to a matter concerning incidents that unfolded during the Airtel Top 8 Cup match between Wanderers and Silver at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on September 23.
In a response signed by the Nomads’ board secretary Chancy Gondwe and copied to lawyers Kalekeni Kaphale SC and David Kanyenda, the club argues that Article 10.3 of the 2023 Airtel Top 8 Rules and Regulations does not create any specific offence of misconduct.
The club also states that acts of misconduct warranting disciplinary action are stipulated in Article 22 of the said Rules and Regulations.
“The Competitions Committee ought to have strictly premised its charge sheet on the provisions of Article 22. In any event, during the hearing Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Football Club shall show that its players neither refused to continue with play nor caused the abandonment of the match,” the response, posted on Wanderers’ Facebook page, reads.
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The club also denies that its supporters perpetrated violence.
“No single supporter of Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Football Club was apprehended by the security personnel hired by the Competitions Committee or at all. Further, the host club Silver Strikers and/or the Competitions Committee were responsible for order and security both in and around the Stadium before, during and after the match in terms of Article 17(1) of the Fifa Disciplinary Code.
“The Charge Sheet is defective and embarrassing for failure to disclose the charging provision upon which the alleged offence is premised. In any event, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Football Club denies bringing the name of the sponsor, Fam and the game into disrepute and puts the Competitions Committee to strict proof thereof,” the response, dated October 18 2023, reads.
DC faulted the association’s competitions committee (CC) for not following set procedures in determining events that led to abandonment of the match.
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In its earlier determination, CC found Wanderers guilty of bringing the game into disrepute and causing abandonment of the match, among others, and fined the club a total of K24.5 million including an amount for replacing seats which were damaged during the match.
DC ordered CC to set aside the determinations and follow proper procedures by according Wanderers the right to be heard.
“The competitions committee should, within 48 hours from the date of this decision, proffer charges against any party that the committee feels should answer for what happened at BNS. The charges should be accompanied by evidence which the committee will rely on,” DC’s order reads.
