FAM confirms Nomads’ fate

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has confirmed Mighty Mukuru Wanderers’ fate in the 2023 Airtel Top 8 edition following the team’s failure to honour their quarter-final second leg fixture against Silver Strikers on Wednesday.

In a statement released yesterday, FAM said the Nomads lost the match 2-0 after boycotting the match in protest against FAM’s decision to turn down their request to postpone the match until their appeal against the verdict on their abandoned quarter-final first leg match is held by the association’s appeals committee.

The statement reads in part: “On Wednesday 6th December 2023 the Football Association of Malawi scheduled a 2023 Airtel Top 8 quarter-final second leg match between Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Silver Strikers at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

“However, Wanderers did not show up at the venue according to the schedule time and as per article 10.6 of the 2023 Airtel Top 8 Rules and Regulation the referee waited for 30 minutes before blowing the whistle to end the match. As per the same article, lost the match 2-0.

 “This means that Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have lost the tie 4-0 on aggregate as they were also declared 2-0 losers in the first leg for causing match abandonment. Silver Strikers have qualified for the semi-final and will play against Mafco FC on Sunday 10th December 2023 at the Bingu National Stadium.”

FAM says it will also communicate on further action on the matter in line with the 2023 Airtel Top 8 Rules and Regulations.

According to the competition’s rules and regulations, a team that does not show up for a match risks a ban in all competitions under FAM.

The regulations Article 10.6 reads: “In the event that a team fails to show up at the venue according to scheduled time, the referee shall wait for 30 minutes before blowing the whistle to end the match.

“The team that does not show up in this case shall lose the match by two goals to zero [2-0]. The team shall also be fined K1 500 000  and banned from participating in any competition under the organisation of FAM.”

But Wanderers lawyer David Kanyenda said their client will challenge the FAM competitions committee decision.

 He said: “This matter isn’t over yet because we still have strict instructions from our clients to prosecute their appeal to its logical conclusion within the local and international football settlement structures. Continuing to fix matches might well end up being an exercise in futility.”