FAM clarifies on TZ ticket vendors’ arrest
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has clarified that two men arrested on Sunday for selling Flames World Cup qualifier second-leg tickets, were the association’s agents.
The football governing body said the two were released after verifying that the tickets in question were genuine.
FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda explained that the two individuals (names withheld), were vending the tickets at Chichiri Shopping Centre on match day, contrary to the agreement and were picked up by Soche Police officers.
The two were later released after FAM verified their identities and the tickets in question.
“You remember that we did state that the tickets would be sold up to Saturday through several outlets using our agents and that no tickets would be sold on match-day,” Nyirenda said.
“But it seems after failing to sell their consignment, they decided to sell the tickets at Chichiri Shopping Centre and were immediately arrested by the police.”
Nyirenda applauded the police for acting swiftly after getting suspicious of the tickets.
Inspector Lyson Chavinda said they were prompted to arrest the individuals because the tickets were different from the others on the market.
“The tickets were genuine, but they had no selling price indicated as opposed to the real ones. That’s why they were arrested. The tickets were taken by FAM for disposal,” Chavinda said.
Apparently, the printing machine skipped money value. But since the tickets had serial numbers which were duly recorded, FAM went on to put them on the market.
