Sulom implicated in injunction saga

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) officials have been implicated as the mastermind of the court injunction that almost led to Fifa banning Malawi football for dragging a football dispute to court.

Sulom vice-president Daud Suleman said there were several pointers that vindicate fears that the league runners were responsible for the injunction that delayed the ill-fated general assembly for over 10 hours.

“It’s sad that Sulom was behind that stand-off when we, as the biggest affiliate, are supposed to be exemplary,” Suleman said.

He said Sulom should take the blame as it was at the centre of the controversy.

“Look, it is the candidate that we elected who obtained the injunction stopping the elections,” said Suleman.

“It’s also one of our own senior executive members who was one of the plaintiffs in the case. That says it that we are directly responsible for the mess.”

Asked what would be the next course of action, the Sulom veep said he would call for a meeting to sort out the mess.

“We need to take drastic measures. I have already discussed the issue with my president [Innocent Bottoman],” he said. “Fifa has already made it clear that those responsible must be dealt with. We need to put our house in order.”

Fifa has asked FAM to discipline the culprits.

Fifa development officer for east and southern Africa, Ashford Mamelodi, who was accompanied by Alexander Glos from Zurich, urged FAM to take action.

“If it does not do so, Fifa will be disappointed,” Mamelodi said after the polls that gave Nyamilandu fresh mandate.

Plaintiffs appearing on the injunction included Wilkins Mijiga, Willy Yabwanya Phiri and Tiya Somba-Banda.

However, Somba-Banda denied being part of the plaintiffs.

“Firstly, I want to set the record straight that I did not sign for that injunction,” he said.

“I also learned about it while here. I only launched a complaint with the appeals committee which they ruled in our favour so there was no need to obtain an injunction.”

Fifa rules do not allow football issues to be referred to ordinary courts.

Those that contravene the rule face suspension from association football.

The injunction was filed after FAM executive committee, following advice from the Fifa envoy overruled the appeals committee that faulted the electoral committee of flouting electoral code in the run up to the elections. n