FAM creates K350m Covid-19 relief fund

The Football Association of Malawi has created a Special Relief Fund of K350 million aimed at bailing out elite players and officials who rely on football as a source of income.

FAM Executive Committee made the decision during an emergency meeting held via Video-conference on Monday April 27, 2020 to review the FAM Task Force report on the Impact of COVID-19 on Malawi football and recommended mitigation measures.

FAM President Walter Nyamilandu said that among those to benefit from the Special fund are Super League club players and team officials, Women’s Football Regional League Teams and Elite Referees.

He disclosed that FAM intends to use FIFA Special Projects funding for 2020 amounting to USD400, 000 for the Relief Fund.

“FAM will offer monthly stipends to the above-mentioned beneficiaries of not less than minimum wage as prescribed by Malawi Government.

“We will, in collaboration with relevant authorities like clubs and Associations, pay individual beneficiaries direct to their personal accounts between June and July.

“The Relief Fund will be assessed on month to month basis by the task force to determine the extent and continuation of the support. In the event that the situation normalises, FAM will withdraw the funding but after giving notice to the beneficiaries

“We will immediately write FIFA to request for authorization to reallocate Special Projects funding for 2020 and upon FIFA’s approval the disbursement will start in June,” said Nyamilandu

He added that FAM will also bail out its Member Associations by increasing the yearly subventions to member Associations that receive direct funding from FAM by 50 percent.

“Bearing in mind that Affiliates’ principle sources of revenues have been adversely affected with the situation at hand, the Committee Resolved to release the funds earlier than planned.

“These funds will henceforth be available from June. The subventions for Member Associations will come from the Operations Fund. In total FAM is expected to spend close to K350 million between June and December,” he said.