Police FC head coach Albert Joel Mphande has announced that he is considering to appeal Ferwafa’s four-month stadium ban and Rwf50,000 fine for his alleged attempt to harm a referee during his side’s 2-1 loss to lowly Amagaju this month. The Zambian tactician says he was shocked by the local football association’s unfair judgment. He was also handed a three-match suspension – for the incident – by his own club. Mphande was first given a three-match ban by Police last week before Rwanda Football Association’s (Ferwafa) disciplinary committee slapped him yet with a four-month stadium ban and a Rwf50,000 fine on Thursday. The two retributions follow what Ferwafa claims to be ‘improper conduct’ exhibited after the match-day 19 game that pitted Police against Amagaju on March 7, which the latter won 2-1 at Kigali Stadium. In a statement released on Friday, Ferwafa explained that: “On the fateful Thursday, March 7, Police lost 2-1 to relegation-battling side Amagaju at Stade de Kigali. After the game, Coach Mphande confronted and attempted to cause bodily injury to the second assistant referee Faradji Muhire but was restrained by his club and security officials.” It further reads that, “Having reviewed the match commissioner and referees reports, the Ferwafa disciplinary committee, based on article 23 of the Ferwafa disciplinary code and chaired by its president Jules Mabano, they decided that the coach is to serve a four-month ban.” The ban, which Mphande calls heavy and unfair, includes not accessing any football venue in Rwanda on top of a Rwf 50,000 fine. In an exclusive interview with Sunday Sport on Saturday, Mphande said that the suspension was ‘heavy and unfair’ and he was considering to appeal for the Ferwafa’s punishment. “It is unfair because I did not touch the assistant referee. I am a professional coach who has worked with different clubs, insulting the coach is the last thing I would do.” He further noted, “I am totally considering to appeal, I am mentally touched by the heavy and unfair ban. However, I am first going to meet the club management and we make the decision together.” The sanctions apply with immediate effect and Mphande won’t be on the touchline, or in the stadium, when the law enforcers host fifteenth-placed Kirehe at Kigali Stadium on Sunday. However, Mphande has the liberty to appeal the ruling. Ahead of their Sunday’s fixture, Police are in fifth position, with 31 points, on the 16-team Azam Rwanda Premier League table. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
