FAM keeps tight lid on crucial constitutional issues’ outcome

Football Association Malawi (FAM) is keeping a tight lid on what was agreed with Fifa in connection with the crucial constitutional issues that were proposed for amendment.

The critical issues that were discussed by a Fifa delegation and a FAM constitutional review team were one-third requirement for affiliates to call for an annual general meeting (AGM) and the 50-plus one voting system uniformity for the executive committee.

FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda yesterday said the way forward will be known when Fifa approves the proposals that were agreed during the two-day meeting held in Blantyre on Thursday and Friday.

“It would be premature to comment on the issues now. Suffice to say the proposals that have been agreed upon between the two parties will be sent to Fifa for their approval before the final draft of the statutes is adopted by FAM at an extraordinary general meeting [EGM] specifically constituted for that process,” said Nyirenda.

The meeting was aimed at reviewing FAM statutes and align them to Fifa Standard Statutes.

However, prior to the meeting, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu hinted that they would contest Fifa’s proposal to change the proportion for affiliates calling for an AGM from two-thirds to one-third, arguing that it could be prone to abuse.

“Our observation is that the proposal to scrap the two-thirds majority and replace it with one-third as a requirement for affiliates to call for an AGM could be prone to abuse because our membership is small.

“Our fear is that if it is changed to one-third, some members can connive and call for an AGM without a valid reason and it could be costly and chaotic. We are, therefore, saying 50 percent could be a reasonable quota,” said Nyamilandu.

Nyirenda said the meeting agreed on a road map to finalise the process that includes sending the draft statutes on December 9 [2013] and presentation of draft statutes to FAM executive commikttee by the constitutional review committee by end of January next year.

The Committee will, among others, conduct consultative meetings involving different stakeholders (including government, Sports Council and the media) on the new statutes between February 1 and March 31 2013.

FAM is expected to hold an EGM in May next year to adopt the new statutes.