The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has officially launched the National Dispute Resolution Chamber (NDRC) to handle football-related conflicts and keep them out of conventional civil courts, according to Nation Online. Unveiled by FAM President Fleetwood Haiya during a press briefing at Mpira Village in Blantyre, the independent arbitration body is chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Lovemore Chikopa, with Innocentia Ottober serving as vice chairperson. Haiya stated that the initiative aligns with FIFA directives and provides a faster, more cost-effective alternative for resolving disputes within the domestic game.
The establishment of the NDRC follows recent high-profile cases where former Flames coaches, including Patrick Mabedi, Meck Mwase, Gerald Phiri, and Ernest Mtawali, successfully sued FAM in civil courts, Nation Online reports. Under its new mandate, the chamber will handle a wide range of issues within the Malawian football sector, including contractual disagreements, player compensation claims, and disciplinary matters. According to Nation Online, Justice Chikopa confirmed that the chamber has developed simple, transparent procedures for players and clubs to lodge complaints, ensuring impartiality across the sport.