FDH Bank Plc has suspended all sports-related sponsorships and activities following chaotic scenes that led to the collapse of the 2026 FDH Bank Premiership launch at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday.
In a statement released on Sunday, the bank expressed deep concern and disappointment over the developments, citing the impact of ongoing disputes within football administration on its commercial interests and brand image.
“The unfortunate impasse between Super League of Malawi (SULOM) and Football Association of Malawi (FAM) undermines the commercial viability of our partnerships and negatively impacts FDH Bank Plc brand image. In respect of [this], FDH Bank Plc has immediately suspended all sports-related sponsorships and activities,” the statement reads.
The bank said the suspension would remain in place pending a “comprehensive review” of its partnerships, which will assess alignment with its brand values and determine the appropriate course of action.
“The review will assess alignment of our partnerships with our brand values and expectations and determine the appropriate course of action”
Saturday’s much-anticipated season opener between Mighty Wanderers and Karonga United failed to take place after referees did not show up, leaving thousands of fans stranded despite both teams completing their pre-match preparations.
The breakdown followed a protracted dispute between SULOM and FAM over the use of Kamuzu Stadium, which had been excluded from a list of approved venues for the 2026 season due to certification issues.
Despite warnings from FAM, including the threat of sanctions if the match proceeded, SULOM went ahead with plans to host the opener at the venue, triggering a standoff that ultimately derailed the event.
As confusion and frustration mounted among supporters, police were forced to fire tear gas to disperse crowds, bringing a dramatic and disorderly end to what had been billed as a showcase for Malawi’s top-flight football.
FDH Bank’s suspension covers a sweeping portfolio of Malawi sports. In total, FDH Bank has suspended approximately K7.58 billion worth of sports sponsorship across Malawi football, netball and schools sport. The bank has frozen its K5 billion FDH Bank Premiership sponsorship, K1.2 billion FDH Bank Netball Premiership deal, K1 billion official sponsorship of the Malawi national football team the Flames, K360 million Malawi Schools Sports Association sponsorship and K22 million Mayor’s Trophy primary schools sponsorship.
FDH Bank suspended sponsorships — total K7.58 billion
