Football Association of Malawi (Fam) was on Tuesday locked up in a meeting with sponsors Carlsberg Malawi Breweries over some statements made by club officials in the media.
Carlsberg, who are sponsoring Bullets FC, Mighty Wanderers and a cup, gave Fam a third degree on why it was allowing some officials to make statements that are tantamount to putting football into disrepute.
The association has been asked to take a firm stance against the officials whose statements may incite violence at the stadium.
The upshot came just two days after there was violence at Mzuzu Stadium after the game between Bullets FC and Super Eagles in the Carlsberg Cup.
Outspoken Bullets general secretary Higger MKandawire and his counterpart David Kanyenda have been faulted for making statements against each other’s team in the media prior to the ill-fated game.
Fam is yet to make a ruling on the matter but fingers have been pointing at the officials for fuelling the violence.
Fam general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda confirmed about the meeting and said the association would flex its muscle to curb the malpractice.
“It’s true the problem we are having is that some officials make statements that can incite violence. They are so careless in what they say on radio and in newspapers, not knowing that this is what causes violence at the stadium,” he said.
“The sponsors are not happy about this and they have taken us to task for not censoring these officials.”
Nyirenda said the association would introduce a ‘code of conduct’ to which all players and officials would have to adhere to.
“We will take a firm stance on the issue. All coaches, official and players who make such statements will be punished. We will follow what the English FAdoes. From now onwards we are warning everyone that as the body mandated to run football in the country by Fifa, we will not condone such actions,” he said.
“What the football fraternity should know is that it’s not only violence and hooliganism that can cost us the sponsorship that we fought so hard for, even the way the officials speak in the media can also contribute to this.”
Fam’s stance to censor officials comments in the media comes after Super League of Malawi (Sulom) also warned of the same.
Sulom last week warned to punish players, coaches and officials who make derogatory statements on social networks like Facebook and tweeter.
“It has been noted with dismay that some players, coaches, official and supporters make statements that can put football and the sponsors of the TNM Super League into disrepute,” Banda said.
“We would like to warn the football fraternity that doing so is against the league’s constitution and all those that are fond of doing this will be punished.”
Banda did not specify the punishment but stressed that the league runners would be monitoring players, officials and coaches’ statements on social network like Facebook and Twitter.
