Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has unveiled a National Disputes Resolution Chamber which will be responsible for handling football-related disputes to ensure that they are not taken to conventional courts.
During a press conference at Mpira Village in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre yesterday, FAM president Fleetwood Haiya said the chamber is an independent arbitration body whose work cannot be interfered with by the association or other authorities.
during the press conference. | Solomon Manda
The chamber, which was commissioned in October last year, is led by Deputy Chief Justice Lovemore Chikopa as chairperson. Other members include Bernard Ndau, Barbara Mchenga Tsiga and Chiza Nyirongo.
“The chamber’s work cannot be interfered by FAM or any football stakeholder. They will independently handle football disputes at national level. If one is not satisfied, they are free to appeal to Fifa [the world football governing body] and Court of Arbitration for Sports [CAS],” said Haiya.
“This chamber will foster effective dispute resolution, protect the rights of football stakeholder such as players and coaches and strengthen the integrity of the game.”
He said Fifa resolved in 2024 that each member associations to adopt a resolution of having a national arbitration chamber by 2025 and FAM did that in June last year before commissioning it last October.
Haiya said the idea of ensuring that issues are resolved within the circles came about after noting that football dispute resolution mechanisms were becoming too expensive and eating a lot of precious time.
When asked if stakeholders are free to go to conventional court if not satisfied with the chamber’s verdict, he said: “Fifa advocates for all matters to be resolved within the football circles.”
Chikopa, on the other hand, said the chamber, with Fifa guidance, has developed rules of procedure that are simple enough for anybody to follow to ensure transparency.
“There are simple ways on how stakeholders such as players can lodge their complaints, bring evidence etc,” he said.
Recently, Flames former coaches have been suing FAM at conventional courts. They include Patrick Mabedi, Meck Mwase, Gerald Phiri and Ernest Mtawali who all won their cases.
