Silver won’t appeal, Wanderers undecided
TNM Super League defending champions Silver Strikers will not appeal against the latest FAM Disciplinary Committee punishments while Mighty Wanderers are yet to decide on the next course of action.
Silver general secretary Mike Tembo commended the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) committee for being reasonable with the K1.75 million fine and forfeiture of nine points from next season, down from a K5.2 million (about $13 500) fine and a six-match ban.
“We want to allow football and not Silver to win. We still feel if they had done thorough investigations, they would not have found Silver in the wrong, but since the report is pointing a finger at us, we want to be there for the good of football,” Tembo explained.
His Wanderers counterpart David Kanyenda said they will meet to decide on the next course of action after being slapped with a K500 000 (about $12 500) fine and forfeiture of four points, down from K700 000 (about $1 750) and four-game ban.
“The verdict is below our expectations as we wanted the fine and the ban set aside and that all three points should go to us. But then there are competing interests as the season has been delayed and so is the crowning of champions. We are inclined to honouring the verdict, but not because we agree,” Kanyenda explained.
The Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda on Wednesday said they would wait for Silver and Mighty Wanderers’ reaction to the verdict before deciding on the date of the replay in an empty Kamuzu Stadium.
“We haven’t received confirmations that they have accepted the verdict, so we would rather wait to hear from the learned men of Wanderers and Silver,” Banda said.
FAM Disciplinary Committee faulted Sulom in the manner they handled security in the December 28 2013 abandoned match at Balaka Stadium.
“The panel noted that Sulom failed as administrator of the league to take charge by leaving the responsibility over security solely in the hands of the home team. It is the view of the panel that Sulom should not have allowed the match to be played at Balaka Stadium without adequate security.
“For these reasons, the panel orders that the game be replayed in an empty stadium at Kamuzu Stadium with security costs and officiating personnel costs paid by Sulom,” reads the verdict signed by FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda.
Silver led 1-0 before the Balaka match was abandoned in the 61st minute.
The Bankers have 50 points just like Moyale Barracks who wound up their campaign.
