FAM, Police bust fake jerseys deal
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and Police Fiscal and Fraud Unit have busted a Malawi National Football Team counterfeit jerseys syndicate operating from Limbe in Blantyre.
According to a police report, M&D Fashion owner Ellah Littah was arrested on Wednesday in Limbe and will be charged under Counterfeit Trademarks contrary to Section 388 (D) (E)of the Penal Code.
The suspect, 44, from Nsaliwa Village, Traditional Authority Kalembo in Balaka District was found with 71 pieces of fake Flames replica jerseys in her shop.
Apparently, FAM, which duly registered the brand of ‘Moto’ Flames’ and ‘Scorchers’ in 2022, acting on a tip off, alerted the police on the syndicate.
The police report reads: “Brief facts are that FAM is an entity and has a commercial and marketing department responsible for developing of football brands. FAM developed a brand for merchandise called ‘Moto’ symbolise Flames for branding purposes. Under this brand, FAM produces replica jerseys and golf shirts for the ‘Flames’ and the ‘Scorchers’ for sell to fans of the Malawi national teams.
“As the custodian of the above registered brands and trademarks, FAM came across numerous counterfeit or fake merchandise of replica jerseys which are being produced and sold in Malawi. These replica jerseys are not sold by authorised FAM re-sellers and do not conform to their standards.”
National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya in an interview yesterday confirmed Littah’s arrest, saying investigations are underway.
FAM commercial and broadcasting manager Tulipo Mwenelupembe confirmed the development.
He said the association had been noticing an influx of the fake jerseys which are on the market.
He said: “Hopefully the arrest of the culprits will lessen the influx of the fake jerseys.”
FAM sells its merchandise through authorised shops. In Blantyre, theses are Into Sports, Formula 1, Touch of Class, No Overpricing, Crystal Duty Free Shop and Pakhale Shop.
In Lilongwe, the designated shops are Into Sports, Puma Shop City Mall and Phatafuli Investments while in Mzuzu the authorised outlets are Kapida Investments and Zampia Sports Shop.
However, the sale of Flames fake replica jerseys has been impacting FAM’s business.
