The match was a decider for Super League of Malawi promotion between Fomo FC and Ntopwa at Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday.
The match’s organizers, the ThumbUp Southern Region Football Association (SRFA), had stated that referee Mayamiko Kanjere would be in charge. But, he was removed at the last minute and replaced by Mwayi Msungama, who officiated the match.
Before the match, police announced that they had detained Fomo’s director, Mary Woodworth, Bangwe All Stars’ Mphatso Jika, Blantyre Football Referees Association general Alfred Kaphamtengo, Bangwe All Stars administrator Willard Banda, and a businessman, Billy Severe.
Police say the group was picked when they met to strategize on how they could influence the officiating of the match so that Fomo could progress.
Police explain how they arrested the quintet
It is alleged that the group agreed to pay Kanjere MK1.2 million (712 US dollars) in order to favor Fomo and help them gain promotion, only to be arrested prior to the match.
Apart from Severe, the rest failed to watch as they were in police custody. The match progressed without Kanjere and Fomo won 4-3 on post-match penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
According to police spokesperson Joseph Sauka, authorities received information that people were meeting to influence the outcome of the match.
“We rushed and found them in a room where they were planning on the same. We took them to the police for questioning,” he said.
The suspects appeared before Dalton Court in Limbe, Blantyre, They were granted bail by Blantyre senior resident magistrate Akiya Mwanyongo.
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The court charged the suspects with conspiracy to commit a felony.
The state prosecutor in the matter, sub-inspector Martin Thulu, told the court that he would parade four witnesses.
