Malawi referees life ban for match fixing overturned: FAM ban Nchalo Club officials

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has offered a lifeline relief to the four referees who were banned for life last year due to match-fixing.

Ref Aziz Nyirenda, assistant referees Limbani Chisambi and Stephano Gomani, and fourth official Jimmy Phiri, were all found guilty of fixing a Malawian cup match between Nchalo United and Chitipa United.

Lower league side Nchalo demanded their money back after losing the tie in a penalty shootout, following a 1-1 draw.

FAM has overruled the life ban from any football related activities the National Referees Committee (NRC) imposed on the four last year.

But FAM has found guilty Nchalo United officials of match fixing and has since penalized them.

In a report signed by FAM’s General Secreatry, Alfred Gunda, referee George Aziz Nyirenda, assistants Limbani Chisambi and Lameck Phiri and match official Stephano Gomani have been cleared of match-fixing charges.

The report states that disciplinary hearing established that the match was not fixed.

“The disallowed goal for Nchalo United FC during the match removed any possibility of match fixing and that all available evidence presented suggested that Aziz Nyirenda was not aware of the intended bribe,” reads a statement issued by the General Secretary of FAM, Alfred Gunda.

Gunda said Aziz Nyirenda and Chisambi have been found guilty of not reporting an attempt by officials of Nchalo United to fix the round of 32 FA Cup game.

Nchalo United’s Secretary General, Coach and Technical Director have each been found guilty of match fixing. The three have since been banned for 36 months each effective 13 July, 2017 and no stadium entry for 10 months effective 8 February, 2018.

In addition, Nchalo United (NU) have been fined MK500, 000.00 and will have three points deducted from their point tally in the forthcoming Super League season in which they are debutants.

The NRC found the four men guilty of fixing a 2017 FA cup tie between Chitipa United and Nchalo United at the Mzuzu Stadium in Mzuzu city on 13 July.

Nchalo United joined the top flight league having being promoted from the Southern Region Football Association League (SRFAL) just like TN Stars from the Centre’s CRFAL and Karonga United (KU) from the NRFAL in the country’s northern region.

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