Zambia Super League side, Nkana have up to 15:00hrs today to respond to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) over allegations that their supporters harassed and verbally abused FAZ officials on duty on Thursday during the Forest Rangers vs Napsa Stars encounter at Arthur Davies Stadium.
According to a letter dated Saturday, August 8th by FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala which was accessed by the ZamFoot Crew, Nkana fans on Thursday harassed and verbally abused FAZ officials that include the President Andrew Kamanga and Zambia Premier League CEO Brian Mulenga.
“This is with reference to a complaint from Football Association of Zambia officials who were on duty during the game between Forest Rangers Football Club and Napsa Stars Football Club played on Thursday 6th August 2020, your supporters harassed and verbally abused the officials that included the Football Association of Zambia President Mr. Andrew Kamanga, Mr. Brian Mulenga and other members of staff.
You are therefore being charged with Violence at Stadia and Unidentified Aggressors under Articles 92 and 93 of the FAZ Disciplinary Code respectively. You are hereby directed to submit a written explanation in defense of this allegation and the charge giving reasons why the relevant Judicial bodies should not apply the appropriate sanctions on your club for the misconduct.”
Kashala also confirmed receiving a letter from SUBA, TAFFEN & ASSOCIATES directing the Association to crown Nkana as Champions. He went in to remind Nkana that the acts by their fans breached FAZ constitutional provisions and the Disciplinary Code.
“Further, the behavior of your supporters has brought the name of the game into disrepute and as FAZ, we need to put this unruly behavior to a stop by meting out appropriate and stiffer punishment for offenders whose conduct is not of sporting behavior. FIFA has been fronting one of its main objectives of protecting the integrity of the game of football and as an Association, we will as well ensure that the integrity of the game is protected.
We would also like you to confirm that your supporters have instructed SUBA, TAFFEN & ASSOCIATES to demand that we crown your club as champions of the 2019/2020 season failure to which they will file an injunction in the ordinary courts. We are sure that Nkana being one of the biggest clubs in the League, you must be aware that these actions contravene the following FAZ constitutional provisions and the Disciplinary Code.
• Articles 13 (1) (i) of the FAZ Constitution which demands that you observe the principles of loyalty, integrity and good sporting behavior’
• Article13 (1) (j) of the FAZ Constitution that calls for you to observe the mandatory items specified in Article 10 (3) especially Article 10(3) (d) that directs clubs not take decisions and directives of the Association to ordinary courts.
• Article 63 of the FAZ Constitution prevents clubs from taking football matters to the ordinary courts.
• Article 16 (a) of the FAZ Disciplinary Code gives power to the Appeals Committee to decide on the decisions of the Disciplinary Committee.”
Kashala went on to warn the twelve-time Super League Champions that the aggregation of the above violations could attract the sanction of expulsion of the club from the league.
“Please note that the aggregation of all these violations could attract the sanction of expulsion of your club from the league as stipulated in Articles 15 of the FAZ Constitution. Not that the Appeals Committee is the final judicial body in all disciplinary cases.
We also want to bring to your attention that it was not right for you to declare yourselves champion when FAZ had not awarded you the points for the Nakambala game. As you may know, when a team fail Is to fulfill a fixture, they violate Article 110 of the FAZ Disciplinary Code and makes it a disciplinary issue and the disciplinary procedure has to be followed before you could be allotted the points. it is only after that disciplinary procedure was exhausted that we were able to award you the three-point in our letter dated 7th August 2020. Be advised that as of 6th August 2020, your club Nkana had only 47 points which could not make you champions. Further, note that your decision to crown yourselves as champions was illegal and that the invitation of supporters to be part of the coronation ceremony contravenes the strict adherence to the COVID — 19 protocols. Your conduct had the potential to spread the deadly Coronavirus as you allowed huge gatherings without respecting the Health Guidelines and therefore put the lives of players and officials at risk.”
Nkana has up to 14:59 today to communicate their defense, failure to which the matter will be adjudicated on by the FAZ through the relevant judicial bodies.
Nkana currently leads the league table with 50 points and should Forest Rangers fail to beat Sensational Zanaco this afternoon Nkana will be crowned Champions.
Aks Faz is just crazy really
I like Nkana; nomba ubu bupuba. Ubututu even from their top officials!
The way Faz has conducted itself actually deserves harassment.
FAZ acted u professionally. It appears either they don’t have the courage or they simply had some other team in mind.
13th Title…..Congrats Kalampa
As much I’m against unruly behaviour by fans we have to be careful how we jump to conclusions that these were Nkana Fans. I’m also surprised that verbal abuse can lead to a team being expelled from the league. In Europe racist chants and verbal abuse amount to a fine.
Though Ba Kalampa fans surely need to behave for years we know how our supporters have behaved like thugs. Its embarrassing as a Nkana supporter to see this sad part of this wonderful team.
I support faz in most cases but on this one you contributed to nkana fans to behave badly. Punishing nkana won’t help but faz should just put it house in order.