Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has banned Mighty Mukuru Wanderers from the association’s competitions for the 2024 season after they failed to show up for the Airtel Top 8 quarterfinal second leg match against Silver Strikers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
However, Fam indicates in a statement that the sentence has been suspended for 12 months, effective January 1 2024.
This means Wanderers will take part in all competitions on condition that the club is not found of the same offence for a period of one year.
On top of that, Wanderers have been fined K1.5 million for the same offence.
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Fam General Secretary Alfred Gunda states that the suspended sentence is based on the spirit of transforming the game as well as for football reasons.
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“Fam advises Wanderers on the need to respect fair play where, regardless of what happens in the field of play, football rules have to be respected and adhered to and that proper channels are followed in keeping integrity of football, competitions, sponsors and all other stakeholders of the game,” the statement reads.
In addition, Fam says it also considered what prompted or caused the abandonment of the match.
“As much as Fam does not condone the behaviour of Wanderers in causing match abandonment, a major error occurred on the part of the match referee as determined by the referees’ committee, of which punishment was given,” the statement reads.
For failing to show up, Wanderers were found guilty, in line with Article 10.6 of the 2023 Airtel Top 8 rules and regulations.
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Wanderers Chief Executive Officer Roosevelt Mpinganjira was not readily available for comment Tuesday.
Meanwhile, sports analyst Parry Chinyama has said the ruling has sent a clear message to would-be offenders to trade carefully.
“The suspension is based on the lenience of the FA [Football Association] since Wanderers flouted the rules and regulations. This means Wanderers need to be very careful during the coming season as any football misconduct will trigger this sentence to be imposed,” he said.
Airtel Malawi plc, sponsors of the Airtel Top 8 Cup, also said they were unhappy with some of the controversies that marred the Season 6 tournament, which was concluded on Saturday.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets were crowned champions of the 2023 Airtel Top 8 after beating Mafco 2-1 at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday.
