Silver face punishment

While Sulom is yet to meet to determine the way forward on the abandoned Super League game between Moyale Barracks and Silver Strikers, the rules and regulations, stipulate that the team in the wrong should face the music.

The match was abandoned in injury time when the Bankers refused to continue playing after referee Aziz Nyirenda awarded Moyale a penalty. At the time of the abandonment, the two teams were tied 1-1.

According to Article 21 sub-section 8 of the league’s rules and regulations, any team that causes an abandonment loses the game 2-0 and is also fined. The perpetrators are also punished.

However, Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda yesterday said they will have to go through the reports from relevant stakeholders to determine who caused the abandonment.

“It is saddening that the match was abandoned. There are procedures that need to be followed when a team is aggrieved. However, at this point, I cannot say much until we get the reports, but a decision will be made based on the rules,” said Banda.

Silver general secretary Mike Tembo defended his team’s move, saying they could not accept the referee’s questionable decision.

“Going by tradition, even if you play under protest, the decision still stands against you even after accepting the referee’s wrong decision. So, the referee should face the decision he made.

“We might be looked to be in the wrong, but with what happened we could not continue. We did not walk out, we were still in the field of play waiting for the referee to rescind his decision,” said Tembo.

But Moyale assistant coach Themba Mtontholo was quoted by MBC Radio 2 saying they won the game.

“It was a clear penalty and it was them [Silver] who caused the abandonment by refusing to continue playing,” said Mtontholo.

Should Moyale be awarded the match, they will finish the first-round on second position behind Big Bullets who have a one-goal better goal difference.