Three top referees have been suspended from officiating football matches following their poor performances in the TNM Super League.
The match officials are Michael Mwambyale, Mark Dzikambasekwa and Alfred Chilinda.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has communicated the punishment to the referees and other stakeholders through a letter dated June 20 2023.
Mwambyale and Dzikambasekwa have been slapped with six-month suspensions each whereas Chilinda has been given a four-month ban.
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The letter stated that Fam’s Referees Subcommittee held a meeting on June 17 and found the three guilty of influencing results of their respective matches.
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Mwambyale, who was in charge of the Mighty Tigers and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers match which ended 1-1 at Mpira Stadium, was found in the wrong for denying Kau-Kau a clear goal.
He was also faulted for failing to give marching orders to striker Christopher Kumwembe, who picked two yellow cards in the match.
“I write to inform you that during a referee committee meeting held on Saturday 17th June 2023, members agreed to suspend you from officiation of football matches for six months with effect from 18th June 2023,’’ the letter addressed to Mwambyale reads.
The referee said he was not bitter with the decision to suspend him.
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“I respect the decision of the committee and I am not bitter. Life must go on,” he said.
Dzikambasekwa was the fourth official during the same match and was found guilty of failing to assist the referee by not informing him about incidents happening in the course of the match.
“You failed to control the technical area for both teams which resulted into a fracas while the match was in progress. These are very serious mistakes for a referee of your calibre,’’ reads the letter addressed to him.
He, however, described the punishment as selective justice.
“I am not happy with the decision. This is selective justice. I expected the whole set to be punished. I am just a victim of circumstances,” Dzimbasekwa said.
Chilinda has been found in the wrong for influencing the result of the TNM Super League match between Civil Service United and FCB Nyasa Bullets, which ended 1-1 at Civo Stadium last month.
’’The suspension follows your dismal performance in the match you officiated on May 7, 2023. According to the assessor’s report, you failed to award a goal to Civo in the 30th minute of the match. You also failed to award a penalty kick to Bullets in the 49th minute. In the 57th minute, you waved play on for a clear handball committed by a Civo player within his penalty area,’’ the letter reads.
National Referees Association General Secretary Chris Kalichero said the punishment should serve as a wakeup call to all referees across the country.
“This is a wakeup call to all our referees wherever they are. Our expectation is that they will discharge their duties professionally all the time,’’ Kalichero said.
Incidents of poor officiation have marred several matches in the Super League, with players, officials and spectators openly disagreeing with some questionable decisions made by match officials.
