Sulom chides FAM on BT derby revenue share

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has faulted Football Association of Malawi (FAM) for demanding K4.7 million gate revenue share from Saturday’s Blantyre derby at Kamuzu Stadium which grossed K56.7 million, despite distancing itself from the match.

FAM and Fifa blacklisted the country’s oldest stadium from hosting high-profile matches, including the Blantyre derby for safety reasons.

Sulom general secretary Williams Banda yesterday said FAM wants a share of the gate revenue when it distanced itself from the match.

He said: “FAM will now be part of the gate takings sharing despite distancing themselves from the match.

“FAM is entitled to K4.7 million. That’s what FAM said it doesn’t concern them.”

FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda warned Sulom against proceeding with the match at the venue, saying they would be doing that against the association’s club licencing rules.

However, Sulom went on to host the match at the venue, and Banda said the match proved that the venue was okay.

He said: “We just want to express our appreciation and gratitude to the stakeholders for the job well-coordinated and collaborated.

“Security was good as no single person or spectator broke the laid-out procedures, in particular going beyond the restricted areas.”

But Gunda in an interview said Sulom still has to respect the statutory regulation of how the gate revenue is shared.

He said: “We did not say the game should not be played. We said it should not be played at Kamuzu Stadium.

“That doesn’t take away the statutory regulations on how the gate revenue should be shared by stakeholders.

“Sulom went ahead and hosted the match at the venue, saying it has put in place security measures to protect the spectators. So, why shouldn’t FAM get its share?”

The match ended in a goalless stalemate.