FAZ Angers North Western Soccer Fans

By JACKSON MAPAPAYI SOCCER fans in North Western Province are angered by the FAZ disciplinary committee decision to award Kitwe United Football club three points with a two-goal score line and fined Indeni Football club K1,000 .

Meanwhile, Kansanshi Dynamos Football club has appealed against the disciplinary committee’s judgement over the Kitwe United Football club vs Indeni Football club case.

North Western soccer fans Association chairperson John Sachipako told the Daily Nation in an interview that they were not happy with the decision by the disciplinary committee.

The decision saw Kitwe return on top with 62 points, two points above Kansanshi who were dislodged to second with a game remaining.

Sachipako said there was no fairness in awarding Kitwe three points

He said the procedure was not followed because Kitwe United FC only made the complaint after knowing the verdict of Kansanshi Dynamos Fc vs Indeni FC case after 28th October this year.

‘’This entails that Kitwe United made the complaint approximately 5 months 4 days after the alleged case occurrence. So, why is the complaint time frame so long in this case as compared to the normal time frame?” he wondered.

He said according to the FAZ regulations, a complaint can only be lodged within 48 hours after the game and it should be accompanied with a bank deposit slip.

He said the FAZ should nullify the decision made by the disciplinary committee because procedure was not followed.

‘’We are aware that Kitwe United lodged their complaint to FAZ on 5th June and FAZ received the complaint letter on 7th November this year after the alleged case was made, so the period is too long,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kansanshi are demanding for a re—assessment of the case by the Appeals Committee of FAZ due to many irregularities in the presentation and proceedings of the case.

The club is contending that the time frame allowed to lodge in a complaint was not followed hence the FAZ was not supposed to hear the case.

The club also feels that the disciplinary committee did not act independently in accordance with Article 21 of the disciplinary code of FAZ which is the same as Article 18 of the Confederation of African Football disciplinary code.

According to the FAZ disciplinary committee chaired by Joseph Jalasi and Mutakela Lisimbi last Friday, Indeni were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player Mathews Simbeye in a Week Nine match against Kitwe whom they beat 1-0.

“Indeni Football Club were found guilty of breaching Article 112 of the FAZ disciplinary code that prohibits a player from featuring for more than one club.

The committee has future awarded Kitwe United three points with a 2-0 score line and slapped Indeni with K1, 000 fine,”