BB’S Mlozi, Kabwafu player get two match ban: Malawi Super League
Bullets F.C striker Divarson Mlozi and Kabwafu F.C player Kondwani Banda have been handed a two match ban by the Super League of Malawi (Sulom).
The two are being accused of displaying unsporting behaviour by hitting each other in a TNM Super League encounter played at Mzuzu Stadium last Sunday.
Bullets won the match 2-1 with goals from Henry Kabichi and Heston Munthali.
In verdicts released by Sulom and addressed to Bullets and Kabwafu, dated 12th September 2012 , the disciplinary committee found the two players guilty of hitting each other in an off the ball incident.
“There was an off the ball incident that happened in the 74th minute of the game where by Diverson Mlozi wearing jersey number 14 kicked Kondwani ‘Gio’ Banda of Kabwafu FC wearing jersey number 23. In return Kondwani Banda retaliated by kicking Diverson Mlozi as well,” reads the verdict made available to Nyasa Times.
This resulted into the referee cautioning the Kabwafu player only for displaying unsporting behaviour.
Sulom was not satisfied with the referees decision and decided to act on the matter in the other way backed by Section 3, Article 77 (b) of FIFA Disciplinary Code 2012 which states that “The Disciplinary Committee is responsible for…(b) rectifying obvious errors in the referee’s disciplinary decisions”.
According to the verdict, the two players were supposed to be sent off after the incident, therefore the Committee agreed to evoke Chapter 2, Section 2, Article 48 (d) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code 2012.
The section states that any recipient of a direct red card shall be suspended at least two matches for assaulting (elbowing, punching, kicking etc) an opponent or a match official.
“Therefore the Disciplinary committee determined that Diverson Mlozi and Kondwani Banda should have been given a red card and therefore are given a 2 match ban with effect from Monday 10th September 2012,” reads part of the verdict.
Further the Disciplinary Committee found that the Referee Mabvuto Msimuko was inconsistent with the FIFA Disciplinary Code as he did not caution Mlozi for unsporting behaviour.
He rather opted only to caution Banda with a yellow card instead of a straight red card for unsporting behaviour to both of them.
‘Harsh’
Bullets F.C through General Secretary Higger Mkandawire have expressed surprise with Suloms decision and described the ban as being harsh on the player.
Mkandawire says such punishment has never been applied in the history of Malawi football and has promised to launch an appeal.
Appeal
In a related development, Moyale Barracks who have also been banned and fined for causing trouble in a game against Bullets F.C have pleaded with Sulom to consider lifting the ban imposed on its four players..
Moyale General Secretary Major James Chilambe said the club wants Sulom to lift the six months ban on Lovemore Mitengo, Timothy Nyirenda and Victor Phiri plus Anthony Manda who was handed a six match ban.
“We are begging them to lift the ban because they are not the one’s who incited all the violence that erupted at the game. About the fine (K470, 000.00) we don’t have a problem we will pay,” said Chilambe.
The four players were banned for beating the officiating personnel in their game against Bullets F.C.
Meanwhile, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has announced that all the players that have been suspended will not be allowed to play in other competitions since the players use the same Identity cards in both competitions.
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