FAM says Lions, Evirom must pay fines before today’s match

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has set a precondition for the Carlsberg Cup quarter-final match replay between Evirom and Red Lions this afternoon at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

The two teams have been slapped with a joint fine amounting to K534 000 (US$1,663) to meet costs of staging the replay such as security and officiation and renovations on the damages that occurred as a result of the violence during their abandoned match at the same venue last Friday.

Reds have also been fined an extra K200 000 (US$6,250) after being found guilty of abuse of power following the decision to bring extra soldiers to join the fracas.

FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said in the event that the two teams fail to pay the fines by the time of the match, they will find a way to deal with them. He did not elaborate.

Evirom patron Emmanuel Viola could not be reached for comment, but Reds chairperson Martin Mlowoka described the verdict as unfortunate and disappointing.

“Firstly, as a concerned party, we were not invited for our side of the story and on the issue of security, it was FAM who were supposed to provide security because at the time we were starting the game, there was conspicuous absence of security personnel.

“Anyway, why should we pay for damages when our bus was damaged? Our bus was parked inside the stadium, but it was stoned and yet Evirom parked theirs outside and it wasn’t tampered with. That should give you an idea as to who were the perpetrators.

“As for bringing in extra soldiers, it was done to calm the situation and not to retaliate. So, our position is that we will complain to FAM,” said Mlowoka.

According to a statement released by FAM signed by Nyirenda, today’s encounter will be played behind closed doors and spectators will not be allowed inside the stadium.

“The match was abandoned due to the fighting that erupted between ganyu supporters who were cheering Evirom FC and Red Lions supporters.

“By their acts, the two sets of supporters brought the game, FAM and sponsors [Carlsberg Malawi Limited] into disrepute,” reads part of the statement.

However, the same statement goes on to say the abandonment of the match was purely due to outside interference caused by the rival supporters and had nothing to do with match officials’ decisions or the conduct of players on the pitch.

FAM also noted that there is growing tension between military and civilian clubs that contributed to the fracas at the stadium.

“The fracas was, to an extent, fuelled by external forces, other than Evirom and Red Lions, [civilian teams’ followers] are bitter with the previous behaviour of army teams as well as their recent emergence as powerhouses in local football,” the statement further reads.

It added: “FAM has been made to understand that there is conspiracy by civilian teams against military teams who they accuse of intimidation and aggression whenever they are playing civilian teams.

“To an extent the hatred has come in as a result of the [recent] success of army teams in all competitions as well as their continued good sponsorship from Malawi Defence Force (MDF).