Fines galore : Silver, Moyale awarded points; Penalties estimated at K6.7m

Sulom has slapped seven TNM Super League clubs with fines amounting to K6.7 million after finding them guilty in various disciplinary cases involving five matches.

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has also awarded Silver Strikers and Moyale Barracks three points each for their abandoned matches against Red Lions and Tigers FC, in that order.

However, despite gaining points, Silver are the biggest casualties, having been fined a total of K2 million—K1 million each for their games against Lions and Nyasa Big Bullets.

In the ruling of the abandoned match between the Central Bankers and Lions, Silver were found guilty of failing to control the actions of their supporters who stoned a Lions goalkeeper and were fined K500 000.

Reads th verdict: “Further, it is clear that Silver Strikers, being a home team, failed to provide adequate security and, therefore, under Article 21 [17] are hereby fined the sum of K500 000 payable before the next official match and failure shall lead to forfeiture of points.”

On the abandonment of the match, Sulom states that it was established that referee Jimmy Phiri awarded a dubious penalty.

“The alleged hand ball did not happen. Such conduct from referees is of great concern to us. We have made recommendations before to the Referees Association to arrest the situation to no avail.

“To show that this committee is desirous to improve the standards of football in this country, we hereby recommend to the Referee’s Association, a ban to the match referee and his assistants for the rest of season effective immediately,” reads the verdict in part.

However, be as that may, the Malawi Defence Force side has been found guilty of causing the abandonment of the match.

Reads the verdict: “Based on the actions of Red Lions players, the committee has found [them] guilty of the match abandonment contrary to Article 21 [7] and [1] of the Sulom Rules and Regulations.”

Consequently, Lions have been fined K1 million and three points have been awarded to Silver on a 2-0 score margin. The result means Silver are tied with leaders Bullets at the top with 45 points apiece.

At the time of the abandonment the Lions-Silver match was goalless.

Silver have also been fined K1 million for failing to control the actions of their supporters and pitch invasion during their match against Nyasa Big Bullets.

Reacting to the punishments, Silver chief executive officer Thoko Chimbali on Monday said:  “We are going to seek clarification on the penalties imposed from legal minds and Sulom because we have been fined twice for a single case which is not making sense.”

On his part, Lions’ chairperson Captain Dave Gondwe said they are failing to appreciate why the match has been awarded to Silver when it has been established that the penalty was dubious.

He said: “The reason our players refused to continue playing was because the penalty was dubious, why then have they awarded the match to Silver?

“ We feel since the match had already matured, a draw could have been a fair determination. We also feel the fines are on a higher side on our part. Anyway, we will be meeting later today and we will come up with a determination.”

However, football analyst George Kaudza Masina said he verdict of the Silver versus Lions game should serve as a lesson to club officials and players.

“Rules and regulations are clear that a team which causes an abandonment for whatever reason, is guilty and loses the match. The whole idea is to instil discipline in the game of football.

“Controversial as it might appear, football is a game of discipline and teams have to play under protest in case they are not convinced with a particular decision,” he said.

Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said they will discuss and determine the way forward on Sulom’s decision to fine them K1 million for misconduct during their match against TN Stars.

Tigers have also been slapped with a K1 million fine for causing an abandonment of their match against Moyale Barracks while Mafco have been fined K1.5 million for violent acts during their match against Blue Eagles, including injuring  midfielder Mecium Mhone.

The Malawi Police Service side has been fined K500 000.

The teams have been given 48 hours to appeal from the date of the verdict.