Red Lions lose appeal case over punishment by Super League of Malawi

Super League of Malawi Appeals Committee upheld the punishment meted out by Disciplinary Committee after Red Lions were found guilty of hooliganism during a game against Surestream on May 10.

The violence claimed the life of an innocent soul Geoffrey Mwale who sustained serious injuries and eventually died on June 5 at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital where he was being treated.

The verdict however reduced the fine imposed on each of the eight players and one official from  a total of K3,600,000 to K3,150,000 because the Appeals Committee found out that the players and the official were supposed to be fined K300,000 each and not K350,000.

“Having examined the reports and the rules, the Panel found that they were applicable to the matter at hand. The Panel further examined the findings of the Disciplinary Committee and whether the teams were charged properly and the Panel noted that the charges were in order,” reads the verdict in part.

“Following the analysis of the verdict, the evidence, the Statutes of SULOM, SULOM Rules and Regulations as read with the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the Panel unanimously upholds the findings of the SULOM Disciplinary Committee in that the team, eight players and the team doctor were in the wrong.”

Tiya Somba Banda warned teams against acts of misconduct because it was not in the interest of the body to punish teams.

“Our mandate is to develop football in the country and it is painful that we are forced to punish teams because of such kind of misconduct,” he said.

Ted Roka chaired the meeting in place of the SULOM Legal Adviser, Captain Gilbert Mitawa who recused himself due to conflict of interest with Red Lions being a military outfit