The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has blamed the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) for the chaotic collapse of the 2026 FDH Bank Premiership launch, saying it acted in good faith to protect the integrity of the game.
FAM president Fleetwood Haiya said this during a press briefing on Sunday, where he also issued an apology to fans, sponsors, and the government regarding the aborted season opener at Kamuzu Stadium.
The much-anticipated match between Mighty Wanderers and Karonga United failed to kick off after referees did not show up, triggering unrest that forced police to fire tear gas.
Haiya said the association had clearly communicated that Kamuzu Stadium was not approved to host matches for the 2026 season due to unmet standards.
He outlined that inspections conducted earlier this year had ruled out several venues, including Kamuzu Stadium, after failing to meet certification requirements.
Despite this, Sulom went ahead and scheduled the opening fixture at the venue, contrary to FAM’s directive to use only approved facilities.
FAM said it repeatedly warned Sulom against proceeding with the match and kept key stakeholders, including government and sponsors, informed throughout the process.
“I wanted to assure you that all our actions were done in good faith to protect the integrity of the game, the safety of fans and the interests of the sponsor,” Haiya said.
The situation degenerated into confusion at the stadium as fans waited for hours before the match was ultimately abandoned.
FAM has since indicated it will summon Sulom to account for the incident while engaging stakeholders to prevent a repeat of the disruption.
