K4m fines for Balaka violence
Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers have been banned for eight and five months respectively.
The Sulom Disciplinary Committee has found the two teams guilty of failure to control the action of their supporters that led to ugly scenes culminating in a loss of life during their Super League match at Balaka Stadium last Saturday.
According to the verdict released on Wednesday and signed by Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda, the disciplinary hearing that was chaired by Christopher Chibwana, also ruled that the match which was abandoned in the 61st minute, should be replayed not later than January 4 2014 [this Saturday] and that all security costs should be shared by the teams.
The development means that the two teams will not be eligible to participate in the Presidential Cup as well as the newly introduced Zambezi Challenge Cup. Silver might also miss the Carlsberg Cup.
Silver have also been slapped with a K2 950 000 (about $7 375) fine for inciting violence and failing to control the action of their supporters whereas Wanderers have been fined K700 000 (about $1 750) for failing to control the action of their fans as well as providing adequate security as the home team.
“Silver Strikers are guilty of inciting violence which led to the abandonment of the match and disrupting the normal proceedings of the game contrary to Sulom Rules and Regulations Article 12 (h) and (i) of the Fifa disciplinary code Article 56 and are hereby fined K2.5 million (about $6 250).
“Both Wanderers and Silver Strikers are guilty of failure to control the actions of their supporters contrary to Fifa disciplinary code Article 67 thereby bringing the game of football into disrepute contrary to Article 14.1.2 of the Sulom constitution as well as Sulom Rules and Regulations Article 12 (b). Both Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers are, therefore, fined K450 000 each,” reads part of the verdict.
It added: “Both Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers are suspended from all football activities in a bid to restore public order for eight and five months respectively as they are habitual violence perpetrators.”
The ruling also states that two Silver fans Austin Phiri and Bruno Makina should be prosecuted as criminals through the courts and the committee commends the police for a job well done for arresting them.
The committee further noted that both teams are habitual offenders and any further offence may lead to expulsion. It also noted lack of club football administration, stadium management skills as well as event management among the club officials which is leading to poor match organisation and recommended capacity building prior to next season kick-off.
The disciplinary committee has ruled that any aggrieved party is free to appeal upon payment of K450 000 (about $1 125) non-refundable fee within 48 hours of the verdict.
Silver general secretary Mike Tembo said they will issue a statement to react to the verdict.
“We are currently in a meeting discussing the same issue and, thereafter, we should determine the way forward,” said Tembo.
His Nomads counterpart David Kanyenda said they were also yet to meet, “but the appeal fee is manifestly excessive and merely designed to frustrate an aggrieved party from exercising its right to appeal.
“Even within the judiciary, an appellant would not be required to cough such a substantial sum in filing fees in order to prosecute an appeal.”
Kanyenda also said they fail to appreciate the rationale of their ban in light of the findings that Silver incited the violence.
“Silver is wholly responsible for the hooliganism,” said Kanyenda.
However, the Sulom GS said the appeal fee is in line with Fifa rules and regulations.
Zachamba bax..
if we tolk of which team between silver & wanders is habitual violent? ngat achibwana mukufuna kut noma itenge ligi mungonena ife tibwerera ku chipiku musatinyasepo apa. kod game munayikilanji ku balaka yet home ground ya wanders ndi pa chichiri? zopusa basi
The decision amazes me. How do you ban the clubs for the wrong doing of the supporters. I have spent the last day at google to find out from across the world how similar situations are handled by the other footballing officials. In most circumstances, the fans are the ones that are punished. for example in Eygpt there was violence between Al Harly and another team which lead to the death of supporters. The fans were punished by forcing all the club games to be played in Camera without supporters. This has been the same in Brazil where Corinthians were also forced to do the same. The same in Italy and other violence prone clubs. I have not come a cross a situation where the behaviour of Fans have led to the ban of the club itself and i stand to be collected. If this was the case, then we would have teams in the English Premier League banned again and again during the reign of hooliganism in football in the eighties and nineties.
I beleive SULOM has goofed in its decision. the Fine is a better option, so too is the propostion that Silver and Wanderers game be played in Camera. But banning them for something the clubs had no control over is to say unfair in the least. What also surprizes me is that while the teams have been banned, they are also requested to replay the game.
Have SULOM also looked at the role the security officials played in the whole fracas? SULOM don’t act with emotions.