BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has announced a set of four key rule adjustments that will guide teams, players, and officials as the second round of the 2025 TNM Super League kicks off this coming Saturday.
The new rules are also expected to apply to other domestic competitions under the country’s football governing body.
According to a circular signed by FAM’s General Secretary, Abdul Chiwalo, and addressed to all participating clubs, the changes are part of efforts to align local football with international standards while also improving discipline and fair play on the pitch.
The adjustments follow recommendations from FIFA and recent observations made by referees and match assessors during the first round of the season.
One of the most notable changes concerns goalkeepers.
From now on, if a goalkeeper delays play by holding on to the ball for more than eight seconds, referees will award the opposing team a corner kick.
This is a stiffer punishment than the usual indirect free kick and is aimed at discouraging time wasting tactics that frustrate the flow of the game.
Another significant amendment states that only the team captain will be allowed to approach referees in case of disputes or to seek clarification on decisions.
Any other player who confronts the match officials risks receiving a yellow card.
In addition, FAM has addressed issues surrounding penalty kicks.
If a player accidentally touches the ball twice when taking a penalty such as slipping and hitting it with both feet the spot kick will be retaken.
However, if the referee judges that the action was deliberate, the defending team will be awarded a free kick instead.
The final change targets situations where players or team officials deliberately interfere with substitutions by kicking the ball while leaving or entering the pitch in order to waste time or disrupt play.
In such cases, referees will award an indirect free kick to the opposing team.
FAM has urged all clubs, coaches, players, and match officials to strictly adhere to these new rules, stressing that compliance is essential for improving the quality of football in Malawi.
The association further noted that FIFA is closely monitoring local competitions, making it important for the country to stay in line with global standards.
