Sulom warns coaches, players on use of social networks

Players, coaches and officials who make statements on social networks like Facebook and Twitter that can put football into disrepute face stiff punishment, Super League of Malawi(Sulom) has warned.

Sulom General Secretary Williams Banda has warned that it would crack its whip on all players and officials who make derogatory statements on social network against TNM and the Super League.

“It has been noted with dismay that some players, coaches, officials and supporters make statements that can put football and the sponsors of the TNM Super League into disrepute,” Banda said.

“We would like to warn the football fraternity that doing so is against the league’s Constitution and all those that are fond of doing this will be punished.”

Banda did not specify the punishment but stressed that the league runners would be monitoring players’, officials’ and coaches’ statements on social network.

He however, urged all those who feel aggrieved to follow the right channel to express their grievances rather than make derogatory statements on Facebook or Twitter.

This is one of the moves to make sure that a strict code of conduct is adhered to by all stakeholders in the TNM Super League,” he said.

Sulom follows the footsteps taken by Eng¬land FA which is set to enforce a code of conduct for players, aimed to ratify issues including social media use.

England players are expected to sign the document this month.

The code is a knee-jerk reaction to recent incidents involving Ashley Cole on social network. The Chelsea left back has been charged by the FA in relation to a tweet in which he labelled the organisation ‘a bunch of twats’.

Cole hit out at the FA after his evidence in support of teammate John Terry racism trial was disputed.

The Chelsea captain was banned for four-matches and fined £220,000 after the FA found Terry of racially abusing QPR defender.

In response, Cole tweeted “Hahahahaa, well done #fa I lied did I, #BUNCHOFTWATS,” Though he deleted the tweet and apologised hours later, he has been charged for putting football into disrepute.

Malawi is not short of such scenarios.

Flames striker Esau Kanyenda found himself in hot soup after he rubbished Football Association of Malawi as incompetent in Facebook status some years ago.

Just over the weekend some Wanderers officials and players took turns castigating Sulom on Facebook for handing the Nomads two away assignments despite the club having contributed some three players to the national team which was playing Ghana.