FAM clears Bullets on Mzuzu violence: Refreee Mtumbula faulted
The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has cleared Big Bullets FC of any wrong doing in the violent acts during and after their Carlsberg Cup against Super Eagles in Mzuzu.
In the statement made available to Nyasa Times and signed by FAM commercial manager Casper Jangale, the disciplinary committee upon hearing a case, found the referee who handled the match, Lusungu Mtumbula was at fault.
“The violence was started because of Mr. Mtumbula’s conduct. The conduct of Mr. Mtumbula was unacceptable. He should not have used force by himself to get the ball from the boy,” reads part of the statement.
The statement further made a recommendation to the Referee’s Association to take action against him and stressed that Mzuzu stadium’s security needs some improvement.
“The responsible department should seriously improve the security facilities at Mzuzu Stadium. There should always be adequate number of security personnel capable of controlling the crowd during such potentially volatile matches,” reads the statement.
It went on to state that match officials on duty during a match should have proper identification that should be easily be noticed by the spectators to avoid a similar incident.
Big Bullets general secretary Higger Mkandawire has welcomed the ruling and urged the club’s supporters to desist from any violence.
“I am very happy that finally we have been cleared, and lam urging all our fans to desist from violence during our games because we are all Malawians,” said Mkandawire.
The People’s team supporters went on rampage following their ouster in the K20 million Carlsberg Cup ($66 666) by a Northern Region Football League Premier Division side Super Eagles. They lost 2-1.
It was reported in the media that the defeat did not go well with some irate Bullets fans, who went up beating every Super Eagles supporters who was chanting anti-Bullets songs.
