Court Orders FAM to Restore Expelled Affiliates for Upcoming AGM
The High Court in Blantyre has ruled that the Football Association of Malawi (Football Association of Malawi) must reinstate three previously de-linked member associations and allow them to attend this Saturday’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) as full affiliates.
The ruling means the National Football Coaches Association (NFCA), the National Youth Football Association (NYFA), and the National Football Referees Association (NFRA) will now participate in the AGM with all rights and privileges attached to affiliate membership.
FAM is set to hold its AGM at Sunbird Livingstonia Beach in Salima, where affiliated members are expected to gather for key governance discussions and decisions.
Originally, the association had invited the three groups to attend only as stakeholders following their expulsion during last year’s AGM. Under that arrangement, they would not have been recognised as full members and would have been excluded from benefits typically granted to affiliates.
FAM’s financial policy provides affiliate members attending the AGM with support such as fuel allowances, accommodation, and sitting allowances. However, stakeholders are generally required to cover their own transport, lodging, and other expenses, with only limited discretionary support from the association.
Dissatisfied with their status change, the three associations filed a case in the High Court, arguing that their removal from full membership was improper and requesting both reinstatement and clarification on the process used to strip them of their affiliate rights.
Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, High Court Judge Allan Hans Muhome sided with the applicants, stating that they should be treated as full affiliates and granted all corresponding entitlements.
During proceedings, FAM’s legal team, led by Luciano Mickeus, requested additional time to prepare their response, citing administrative issues with misplaced court documents served earlier in the week.
Speaking after the decision, the applicants’ lawyer David Kanyenda welcomed the court’s intervention, expressing optimism that FAM would comply with the ruling without further dispute.
“We are hopeful that FAM will respect and implement what the court has directed. If not, we will pursue further legal steps, but we are confident this will be followed,” he said.
