Nomads will not appeal K1m fine
Mighty Wanderers FC have said although they are yet to decide on what action to take following Sulom’s fine of K950 000 (about $2, 375) for causing the violence during and after their Super League game against Blue Eagles at Kamuzu Stadium on June 29, they will not appeal against the verdict.
The Nomads lost the match 2-1.
Wanderers have also been banned from playing at home for 10 games.
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda confirmed the verdict on Monday, saying the Nomads were supposed to pay the fine before their league game against Kamuzu Barracks (KB) in Balaka.
Banda said they had agreed with Wanderers to provide a commitment letter, allowing Sulom to use money in its custody received from a foreign club in respect of a player’s transfer fee, to settle the fine.
“In the event that we do not get the commitment letter by noon, they will lose points against KB,” said Banda.
Sulom also said after the 10-match ban, the Nomads will play five games at home without spectators and will be required to provide adequate security at their games.
However, the Nomads general secretary David Kanyenda, who also doubles as the club’s legal adviser was, as at noon, elusive on whether they would issue the commitment letter. He insisted that they would meet conditions set by Sulom.
“We have not met as an executive committee to discuss the verdict, but if they impose conditions, we will meet those conditions, so that we should play.
“But it is a bit irresponsible of Sulom to expect us to raise the money having communicated the verdict just last night. I am sure that they do understand that today [yesterday] is a holiday and, therefore, we could not access money from the banks.
“All the same, it is unlikely that we will appeal. We do not want to waste time appearing before tribunals. In any case, we can still win the league playing elsewhere. It could be a blessing in disguise since we have been struggling to register positive results at Kamuzu Stadium of late,” said Kanyenda.
The Nomads were slapped with a K300 000 (about $750) fine for failing to provide security as a home team.
They were also fined K250 000 (about $625) for disrupting normal proceedings of the match contrary to Article 13.2.1 of the league’s rules and a further K150 000 (about $375) for their supporters’ actions to throw missiles onto the pitch.
Other fines are for damages caused during the violence.
Nomads fans went on rampage and threw missiles onto the pitch protesting referee Fransisco Scova’s decision to show their goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa the red card. Some of the supporters invaded the pitch.
The match was stopped for over 15 minutes as security personnel, including the police, tried to calm the situation.
After the match, 24 vehicles were reportedly stoned as the violence spilled to other surrounding areas.
Two years ago, the Nomads were handed a similar punishment after being found guilty of causing violence in their game against Red Lions.
