Roan United FC has been docked three points and awarded a 3-0 loss in their match against Nangweshi Pirates FC after it was discovered that they had fielded an ineligible player.
According to a statement released by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Disciplinary Committee and made available to the ZamFoot Crew, Roan United FC breached Rule 3.1 of the FAZ National Division One Playoffs 2025 Tournament Rules by submitting a player under the name “Musamvu James”, who is not registered with the club for the 2024/2025 season.
The committee found that Musamvu James is actually registered with Airport Warriors FC, and the FAZ ID used on the match return form corresponds to Kessy Muwana, a duly registered player with Roan United FC.
This misrepresentation constitutes a breach of the FAZ Player Registration and Transfer Regulations, relating to falsification or misrepresentation of player identity, use of an unregistered or ineligible player, and violation of integrity in match documentation.
In accordance with Rule 6.1 of the FAZ National Division One Playoffs 2025 Tournament Rules, the match in which the ineligible player was fielded shall be forfeited, and the opposing team awarded a 3-0 victory.
However, the drama didn’t end there. Nangweshi Pirates FC officials were also found to have engaged in utterances insinuating, threatening, and attempting to influence due process of the DC and officials of the Play-off secretariat. As a result, the club has been reprimanded and fined K3000, and an official, Mr. Likando Mubyana, has been ordered to retract and apologize for his utterances before their next match on June 19, 2025.
The FAZ Disciplinary Committee has warned all participants to observe a respectable decorum towards each other and all parties involved in the competition without resorting to unsavory utterances and activities.
The decision has significant implications for Roan United FC’s chances of advancing in the tournament, and the club will need to regroup and reassess their strategy if they hope to make a comeback.
Meanwhile, Nangweshi Pirates FC will need to ensure that they adhere to the ruling and avoid any further sanctions.
The FAZ National Division One Playoffs 2025 continues to be a thrilling competition, with teams battling it out on and off the pitch. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis on the tournament.
HERE IS THE FULL STATEMENT; PLAYER REGISTRATION & ELIGIBILITY REVIEW – ROAN UNITED FC (2024-25 SEASON)
Following a review of the match return forms and registration records for Roan United FC, the following observations are noted:
1. Loan Transfers Confirmed:
– Hems Chanda: Loaned to Roan United FC for the 2024-25 season from Mufulira Blackpool.
– Dalitso Mung’andu: Loaned to Roan United FC for the 2024-25 season from Solwezi Academy.
2. Discrepancies Noted:
– Musamvu James:
– The player does not exist in the system under Roan United FC.
– Currently registered at Airport Warriors FC.
– The FAZ ID used on the match return form corresponds to Kessy Muwana, who is duly registered with Roan United FC.
– Mulenga Richard:
– Correctly registered under Roan United FC with FAZ ID 023487M96.
– The minor discrepancy in the FAZ ID (inclusion of a 4 before “M96”) does not affect the player’s eligibility or identity.
3. Historical Registrations:
– FAZ ID 003048M95 (Edusport Academy – 2012) and FAZ ID 014586M95 (Nampundwe FC – 2015) are valid historical records.
– These previous registrations do not affect the integrity of the current registration under Roan United FC, as the player in question has had numerous valid registrations over the years culminating in the present status.
4. Misrepresentation of Player Identity
– Roan United FC is found to have misrepresented the identity of a player by listing “Musamvu James” on the match return form, despite the fact that the player’s valid registration under Roan United FC is under the name “Butemwe Musamvu.”
– The name “Musamvu James” is associated with a separate registration at Airport Warriors FC, not Roan United FC.
This act constitutes a breach of the FAZ Player Registration and Transfer Regulations relating to:
– Falsification or misrepresentation of player identity;
– Use of an unregistered or ineligible player;
– Violation of integrity in match documentation.
Recommended Sanction:
– Forfeiture of the match in which the misrepresented player was fielded, in accordance with applicable FAZ disciplinary regulations.
Basis for Sanction:
The sanction against Roan United FC is grounded in the following provisions of the FAZ National Division One Playoffs 2025 Tournament Rules:
– Rule 3, Paragraph 3.1:
“Each team shall submit a team list of all players and officials for scrutiny on the appointed day by the organisers of the FAZ National Division One Playoffs. Only players and officials registered for the 2024/2025 Season are eligible to take part in the FAZ National Division One Playoffs.”
– Rule 6, Paragraph 6.1 – Winning of Matches:
“If a team forfeits a game for any reason, the match shall be scored as a 3-0 win for the declared winner.”
Roan United FC breached Rule 3.1 by submitting a player under the name “Musamvu James”, who is not registered with Roan United FC for the 2024/2025 season. This misrepresentation renders the player ineligible to participate in the match as his name was not present.
In accordance with Rule 6.1 of the FAZ National Division One Playoffs 2025 Tournament Rules, the match in which the ineligible player was fielded shall be forfeited, and the opposing team awarded a 3-0 victory.
Nangweshi Pirates Fc – Reprimand and fine:
The committee has with great concern noted that the complainant Nangweshi Pirates Fc’s officials have actively engaged in utterances insinuating, threatening and attempting to influence due process of the DC and officials of the Play-off secretariat.
The DC therefore hereby further reprimands Nangweshi Pirates in accordance with article 14 of the FAZ Disciplinary code and fines the club K3000 and an official retraction and apology for its utterances pronounced towards the given procedures surrounding the judicial process of the Play-offs.
To clear any doubt, Roan Fc and Nangweshi Pirates Fc are charged as follows:
1. Roan forfeits the match to Nangweshi by 3 – 0 and 3 points
2. Nangweshi Pirates Fc is fined K3000 before their next match on the 19 June 2025
3. Nangweshi Pirates Fc official (Mr Likando Mubyana) retraction and apology before their next match on the 19 June 2025.
Should the complainant repeat such unsporting activity towards the competition, the Club shall be further fined, disqualified from the competition in accordance with Article 28 and furthermore charged under article 53.3 of the FAZ Disciplinary code.
Failure for Nangweshi to adhere to the ruling shall result in further sanctions against the club.
All clubs are required to observe a respectable decorum towards each other and all parties involved in this competition without resorting to unsavory utterances and activities. Let this serve as a warning to all participants.
