By Staff Reporter
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has cracked its whip on Karonga United FC with a total of K3,500,000 fine after the Sulom disciplinary committee found them guilty of causing violence last month at Karonga Stadium during a league game against Silver Strikers.
The game ended prematurely after Referee Mercy Kaira changed her earlier decision to reward Karonga United a penalty.
According to the verdict released by Sulom on Friday night, it was established that Kaira failed to stamp authority on the match.
“Assistant referee Samuel Fudzulani wrongly influenced the decision by the referee through impromptu discussion with Silver Strikers players and official.
The laws of the game provide for change of decision by the Referee. The rules and regulations provide that clubs can respect the decision of the referee by playing under protest.”
Karonga United has therefore been found guilty of abandonment of the game contrary to Article 21 (7) and (1) of the Sulom Rules and Regulations.
The team will also pay for causing damage to property and have been ordered to maintain Silver Strikers’ bus which their supporters damaged.
The Sulom disciplinary committee has also declared Silver Strikers winners and have since been awarded 3 points.
However, the central bankers have also been fined MK500,000.00 for impromptu confrontation with match officials.
Karonga United Assistant coach Oscar Kaunda has been banned for the rest of the season from all official matches and team manager Wilberforce Longwe is banned for six official matches with immediate effect.
The Super League body has so far made some recommendations wich include ensuring that the perception of playing under protest is
religiously followed by the clubs and are therefore urged to make a public statement within 48 hours
Sulom has also recommended that the National Referees Association suspends Mercy Kaira and Samuel Fudzulani.
Efforts to seek immediate reaction from both Karonga United and Silver Strikers proved futile as their officials’ phone numbers went unanswered when we tried to call them.
 has cracked its whip on Karonga United FC with a total of K3,500,000 fine after the Sulom disciplinary committee found them guilty…){kind=link}