Football Association of Malawi (Fam) risks a fine of K8 million and have the Flames excluded from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) if the association withdraws the national team from the qualifiers for the 2019 edition.
Confederation of African Football (Caf) regulations sourced on www.cafonline.com have outlined punishments for teams that withdraw from the Afcon qualifiers before and after a draw.
“Any national association declaring forfeit [sic] after the drawing of lots and before the start of matches is liable to a fine of $10,000). It will also not be allowed to participate in the next edition of the Afcon,” reads in part Chapter 27, Article 58 of the regulations.
To participate in the two competitions, Fam would have spent K200 million and earn some money from gate collections and broadcasting rights. The association has exhausted its K39 million funding for the financial year.
The Flames might only be re-admitted to the 2023 Afcon edition.
However, Malawi can still play in friendlies and regional football competitions such as Cecafa Cup and Cosafa Cup.
Fam, which in 2014 also issued similar withdrawal threats only to u-turn, have also decided to pull out of the African Nations Championship (Chan) preliminary round matches against Madagascar next month.
The Malawi FA has also given itself until next month to withdraw from Chan. Such a withdrawal could also earn Fam a penalty, according to the Caf website.
“An association which withdraws before the preliminary phase after having registered shall entail a fine of $1,000 (K717,000) in addition to forfeit [sic] the entry fees. It shall not be authorised also to take part in the next edition of the African Nations Championship,” reads Article 51 of the regulations.
Such sanctions mean that the Flames, who last participated in Chan qualifiers six years ago, would only be eligible for the 2022 edition of the competition which is restricted to home-based players.
Fam General Secretary, Alfred Gunda, could neither confirm nor deny the figure for the fines saying his association was compiling a comprehensive report on the expected sanctions.
“What I know is the fines range from $10,000. But beyond the money we are also looking what other sanctions we are likely to face,” Gunda said.
Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development, Henry Mussa, said the issue of recruiting a coach should not prevent the Flames from participating in Afcon and Chan competitions.
“Let me be clear that we should separate the two issues. We can have a local coach and prepare adequately to participate in the competitions.
It is a question of how to come up with a way to persuade or motivate the government to provide resources because the issue is now about resources,” Mussa said.
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