Fifa chops 3 Malawian referees
Three assistant referees have been removed from Malawi’s 2024 list of 17 Fifa international referees which the world football governing has released.
According the latest list posted on Fifa website, assistant referees Eliza Sichinga, Edward Kambatuwa and Jonizio Luwizi are no longer Fifa referees.
They have since been replaced by Samuel Fudzulani, Mphatso Mmatete and Lameck Phiri.
Centre referees that have survived the chop are Godfrey Nkhakananga, Gift Chicco, Mercy Kayira, Easter Zimba, Eness Gumbo and Newton Nyirenda.
Assistant referees Clemence Kanduku, Bernadettar Kwimbira, Happiness Mbandambanda, Evance Msonda, Joseph Nyauti and Pondamali Tembo have also made the 2024 list while Mathews Ngwira and Rose Zimba have also maintained their status as Fifa beach soccer referees.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) referees desk officers Fredrick Kholopa in an interview yesterday confirmed the development.
He said: “We already sent communication to regional referees committees and National Football Referees Association on the new list of Fifa international referees for Malawi,” he said.
Kholopa said Fifa determines the list of the international referees based on performance.
He said: “These referees are assessed whenever they are assigned matches. Apart from this, the referees also undergo regular fitness tests conducted by Fifa.
“For one to be maintained as a Fifa referee, they need to pass all the fitness tests. If you fail the test, you are out.”
NFRA general secretary Chris Kalichero said they are aware of the new list.
“We also got the list,” he said. “Three are indeed out and three are in on the list.”
Kwimbiria, who is Malawi’s longest serving Fifa referee, said she was glad to be maintained as assistant referee.
She has been Fifa assistant referee since 2008.
“I have never failed a fitness test all these years,” said Kwimbira.
