The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has held its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) today at Sunbird Livingstonia Beach in Salima, with President Fleetwood Haiya using his opening address to dismiss reports of divisions within Malawi football and urge unity among stakeholders.
The meeting, regarded as the highest decision-making gathering on the FAM calendar, took place against a backdrop of strained relations with some football bodies following last year’s decision to remove the National Football Coaches Association, the National Referees Committee and the National Youth Football Association from affiliate membership.
Addressing delegates, Haiya insisted that FAM was not in conflict with any of its affiliates, stressing that the association exists to serve and unite football stakeholders.
“As the mother body, we are not in a fight with anyone. We will never compete with our affiliates,” Haiya said.
He defended last year’s constitutional changes, arguing that the removal of the three bodies from affiliate status was made in the best interests of football administration rather than politics.
“Referees, coaches and youths are technocrats, not politicians. The decision was made in good faith to allow them to operate professionally,” he said.
Haiya also highlighted what he described as major achievements registered during the 2025/26 football season, particularly in attracting corporate sponsorship.
According to the FAM president, the association has built confidence among corporate partners, enabling both FAM and its affiliates to secure increased sponsorship and improve football development across the country.
The issue of the reported rift between FAM and the Super League of Malawi (SULOM) also dominated discussions.
Haiya disclosed that FAM and SULOM leadership held a meeting on Friday night, where they resolved to strengthen their working relationship and avoid public exchanges through the media.
He blamed sections of the media for fuelling perceptions of conflict between the two organisations.
“We agreed to close the doors to the media on issues that may create unnecessary divisions and instead focus on developing football,” Haiya said.
Despite speculation before the meeting that disciplinary action could be taken against some affiliates or officials, the AGM concluded without suspending or expelling any member association or individual.
The meeting also featured a financial reporting workshop for member associations before delegates deliberated on football governance and development matters.
Ironically, the AGM was held after Super League clubs collectively declined FAM’s invitation to attend the gathering following a virtual meeting involving SULOM.
The clubs maintained that they are not direct FAM affiliates and therefore would not participate, although SULOM remained eligible to attend as an affiliate.
Meanwhile, the National Referees Committee distanced itself from the National Football Coaches Association’s ongoing court challenge against FAM over last year’s constitutional changes, saying it had not been consulted and had chosen not to pursue legal action.
Closing the AGM, Haiya thanked football stakeholders for their continued support and reaffirmed FAM’s commitment to transforming the game through cooperation, professionalism and sustainable football development.
