FAM Promotes 476 Match Officials

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM), through its Referees Sub Committee, has promoted 369 match officials from Grade 3 to Grade 2 and 107 match officials from Grade 2 to Grade 1 following a rigorous assessment exercise conducted over the past month.

The promotions follow fitness tests, Laws of the Game examinations and on-field performance evaluations held in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu as part of FAM’s efforts to strengthen the quality of officiating in domestic competitions.

FAM Referees Manager Duncan Lengani said the exercise is designed to reward merit while addressing the growing demand for qualified officials in the Elite League, national cup competitions and regional leagues.

“We have promoted these match officials on merit, considering that the last time we did so was in 2017. I am very sure that these referees will help transform the game as they have shown consistency and knowledge of the Laws,” he said.

Lengani added that the promotion process will now become an annual exercise.

“We will now conduct these promotions every year because we have established clear procedures and criteria that will guide us moving forward,” he said.

He further stressed that the newly promoted officials are expected to perform diligently, while also motivating others who were not promoted.

“We expect that these referees who have been promoted today will perform their duties diligently, and this should also serve as motivation for those who have not yet been promoted,” he added.

The newly promoted Grade 1 referees are expected to be in contention for elite competition appointments from 1 May 2026.