Silver win appeal against FAM competitions committee

 Silver Strikers FC have won their appeal against the K3.7 million fines imposed on the club by FAM for the violence that occurred during their FDH Bank Cup quarter-final match against Nyasa Big Bullets at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe on August 18 last year.

The Central Bankers were found guilty of all nine counts and were among others, banned from playing their official matches at Silver Stadium for a year.

But a Football Association of Malawi (FAM) disciplinary committee hearing chaired by Allison M’ban’gombe in Lilongwe on Saturday, set aside all the orders made by the association’s competitions’ subcommittee, saying it will now guide on a new hearing soon.

Lawyer for Silver Chrispine Gwalawala Sibande confirmed the verdict, saying: “Silver can for now play at home. FAM Disciplinary Committee has ordered re-hearing of the whole case.

“We appealed on grounds that we were not given enough time to respond to the charges that time. We were not afforded an opportunity to be heard by the [FAM] competitions committee.

“The competitions committee had no authority to preside over the case because FDH Cup rules say all matters to do with violence and hooliganism must be dealt by FAM disciplinary committee.

“We submitted that the competitions committee delibarately didn’t want to share the reports from the stadium contrary to FAM Statutes on rules of natural justice.”

He said they further submitted that the competitions committee was part of decision-making at the stadium “and, therefore, the same committee couldn’t be a fair and impartial judge on the incidences that happened there”.

Sibande said the ruling gives hope to Silver Strikers that they can still get justice in some football administrators.

FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka, who represented FAM competitions subcommittee at the hearing alongside Fellistus Dossi, said they will issue a detailed statement on the matter.

Apart from being fined Silver were fined K2 million, the Central Bankers were also slapped with a K300 000 fine for failing to control their supporters from showering insults on FAM officials and referees during the match.

They were further fined K500 000 for beating up Zakazaka, Nyasa Big Bullets officials, including Stone Mwamadi and Mabvuto Chibambo as well as sprinkling urine on them.

Silver were further fined K500 000 for the actions of the mastermind of the violence Mulo Makina, their security officer who was also banned for life.

NATION