Nomads escape ban, fined K1.5m

Mighty Mukuru Wanderers  breathed a sigh of relief after escaping a ban for boycotting their 2023 Zamadolo Airtel Top 8 quarter-final second leg fixture against Silver Strikers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on December 6.

Wanderers did not turn up for the match arguing that they could not fulfil the return leg while the fate of the abandoned first leg match, which was awarded to the Central Bankers, was “unresolved and  still a subject of the appeal”.

In its verdict, signed by general secretary Alfred Gunda, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has found the Nomads guilty of failing to show up for the match and has banned the Nomads from all the associations’ competitions for 2024, but suspended for a year effective January 1 2024.

The Lali Lubani Road outfit has also been fined K1.5 million.

Reads part of the verdict: “Mighty Mukuru Wanderers were found guilty of failure to show up at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre for the 2023 Airtel Top 8 quarter-final second leg contrary to Article 10.6 of the 2023 Airtel Top 8 Rules and Regulations.

“Wanderers are hereby fined K1.5 million. [They] are also banned from all FAM competitions for 2024 season which is suspended for 12 months effective 1st January 2024 on condition that the club is not found guilty of the same offence again.”

FAM says the decision for a suspended sentence was based on the spirit of transforming the game.

Reads the verdict: “FAM advises Mighty Mukuru Wanderers FC on the need to respect fair play, where regardless of what happens in the field of play, football rules have to be respected and adhered to and that proper channels are followed in keeping the integrity of football, competitions, sponsors and all other stakeholders of the game.”

FAM further says its decision is based on footballing reasons, having considered the cause of the abandonment.

“As much as FAM does not condone the behaviour of Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in causing the match abandonment, a major error occurred on the part of the match referee [during the first leg] as determined by the referees committee of which punishment was given,” reads the verdict.

Both Nomads board secretary Chancy Gondwe, who doubles as legal adviser, and acting chief executive officer Roosevelt Mpinganjira said they could not comment on the verdict as they were yet to be served.

Said Mpinganjira: “I don’t know anything. We haven’t yet been communicated to officially.”