FAM moves to avoid Bingu Stadium fines

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has resolved to buy Bingu National Stadium technical area luxury seats to replace the current substandard ones to avoid Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) sanctions.

The association’s executive committee made the decision at its meeting on Saturday in Salima.

The resolution was made a day after The Nation published an exclusive story revealing that FAM has been paying a $5 250 (about K9 million) fine to CAF for every Flames’ international match hosted at the venue for contravening the continental football governing body’s rules and regulations.

The statement from FAM on the resolution reads: “The committee resolved that FAM, in liaison with Ministry of Youth and Sports, should acquire new and modern benches for Bingu National Stadium.”

CAF Article 9 of the regulations states that a stadium must have the luxury seats for teams’ substitutes and match officials’, with room for at least 14 persons  while the match officials must have room for four match officials.

Article 46 reads: “In case stadium technical infractions are verified during a member association match, in a CAF interclub match or Fifa competition African qualifier match, CAF has the right to impose financial sanctions on the organising MA [member association] or club. ”

Bingu National Stadium, the only facility in the country certified to host Fifa/CAF matches, was in January 2023 given provisional approval to host international matches by CAF on condition that some shortfalls, including the substandard technical area seats should be replaced with the approved luxury shelter ones.

But the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which owns the facility, has failed to replace the condemned seats, prompting CAF to fine Malawi $5 250 fines for each Flames match the stadium hosts since January 2023.

FAM has already paid $21 000 (about K36 million) for hosting matches against Egypt, Guinea and Ethiopia in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and against Tunisia in 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

This year, Malawi will play four 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Liberia, Sao Tome, Equatorial Guinea and Namibia.

The Flames are also expected to play four 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at home against opponents to be unveiled after a draw set for next month.

Ministry of Youth and Sports spokesperson MacMillan Mwale said FAM consulted them on the issue.

He said: “The ministry was consulted and the discussions are  ongoing with Malawi National Council of Sports and FAM on the matter to address the issue of technical benches at Bingu National Stadium.”