BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) Referees committee has penalised five members including Godfrey Nkhakananga for professional misconduct.

FAM Referees Committee’s decision comes after meeting at the Mpira Village on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 that deliberated on refereeing matters in elite football matches.

The Committee having reviewed relevant match footage, match officials reports and FAM Competitions Committee report made the following determinations:

1. Suspend Referee Deus Nyirongo for three months for failure to control the game as per the requirements of the Laws of the game in a Super League Match between Karonga United and Chitipa United played on 22nd April 2023
2. Suspend Referee Assessor Zuza Nyondo for four months for poor report writing as he failed to assess and submit a true performance of the referee in a Super League Match between Karonga United and Chitipa United played on 22nd April 2023
3. Suspend Referee Peter Jossam for three months for failure to control the game and apply laws of the game correctly in a Super League match between Silver Strikers and Blue Eagles on 6th August 2023
4. Suspend Referee Godfrey Nkhakananga for four months for failure to control the match by allowing play to continue after blowing whistle to stop play; continuing play without proper restart; allowing a goal from a dead ball and giving advantage by blowing a whistle in the Airtel Top 8 quarterfinal match between Silver Strikers and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers on 23rd September 2023.
5. Suspend Referee Dave Chombo for six months for poor knowledge and application of the Laws of the game and failure to cooperate with match organisers when summoned to a hearing as a witness in a Super League match between Silver Strikers and Chitipa United played on 1st August 2023.

All the suspensions are with immediate effect.