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Honeymoon over

 

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is drafting a regulation that will restrict its affiliates from signing contracts with third parties.

The regulation will largely affect Super League of Malawi (Sulom), regional leagues and women’s football leagues, who in the past, have been dealing directly with sponsors.

The development, according to FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda, is a recommendation by Fifa following organisational review that took place in May.

The development means all contracts, including sponsorship agreements, marketing deals, television and image rights, have to be negotiated for and signed by FAM.

TNM’s Daniel Makata flanked by Sulom’s Somba-Banda (L) and Daud Suleman during sponsorship  announcement
TNM’s Daniel Makata flanked by Sulom’s Somba-Banda (L) and Daud Suleman during sponsorship announcement

“Once this regulation is introduced, it will clearly state the role of affiliates. No affiliate can sign any contract with another organisation because that is not their responsibility. Only FAM can do that,” he said.

The GS cited the television rights contract between Sulom and Beta Television as an example of how FAM and the affiliate did not work together.

He said: “It was observed that in the absence of such legal framework, FAM and its affiliates have been operating on different wavelength. As a result, there have been problems when things go wrong. One example standing out is the Sulom television rights deal with Beta Television.  It was observed that FAM and Sulom did not work together on the deal to benefit football clubs.”

However, Sulom has asked FAM to release the Fifa report to all affiliates before it starts implementing the recommendations.

Sulom GS Williams Banda said: “All affiliates attended the consultative meetings with Fifa delegates. It’s now four months since those meetings and now we are hearing that FAM is implementing the recommendations. I thought FAM would come back to the stakeholders to brief them on the recommendations?”

On the television rights deal, the GS referred the matter to treasurer Tiya Somba-Banda who was part of the deal’s task force and also attended the Fifa meetings.

Somba-Banda, however, said it was difficult to comment since FAM was yet to release the Fifa report.

“We are looking forward to seeing the recommendations from Fifa delegation and at the moment we cannot make an informed position,” said the treasurer, who took a leading role in the television rights deal.

In response, Nyirenda said they would brief the affiliates on the developments at the December annual general meeting (AGM).

“The legal subcommittee is working on the document which will be ready by October. Once it is done all affiliates will sign it at the December AGM,” he said. n

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