Sports
Malawi protest to Fifa against Nigeria’ s Calabar venue and referee

By Nyasa Times Reporter
August 12, 2013

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has written to the world soccer governing body Fifa to ask for their decisive Group F World Cup qualifier against Nigeria to be moved from Calabar as well as change the referee to handle the game.

Malawi trail Nigeria by two points and must win to progress to the play-offs.

In a statement made available to Nyasa Times, the FAM’s letter to Fifa states: “There is security risk in Calabar where the match will be played, as reported by the Commonwealth Commission. The venue of the match is risky to our delegation and we would like Fifa to shift the match to Abuja or to a neutral country where our delegation will be safe.

“Calabar has been flagged as a high-risk security area and this alert cannot be taken lightly. Our Minister of Sports will be part of the travelling delegation and we do not want to take security risks by travelling to Calabar.”
Football Association of Malawi CEO Sugzo Nyirenda : Malawi want qualifier against Nigeria switched from Calabar to Abuja or Lagos

Football Association of Malawi CEO Sugzo Nyirenda : Malawi want qualifier against Nigeria switched from Calabar to Abuja or Lagos

FAM statetement signed by its CEO Suzgho Myirenda, also protested over the appointment of Hamada el Moussa Nampiandraza as referee for the match, who it believes gave a “below par” performance at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

“The track record of the appointed referee (Hamada El Moussa Nampiandraza) with Malawi and his perfomance at the 2013 Afcon was not good and we also question decision of early disclosure of the match official,” said FAM in the statement.

FAM suspect the early announcement of the game’s man in-charge can lead to match fixing and corruption.

“Fam would like to register this protest with your office so that Fifa can intervene urgently and advise on the matter accordingly,” the statement said.

http://www.nyasatimes.com/2013/08/12/malawi-protest-to-fifa-against-nigeria-s-calabar-venue-and-referee/