FAM Steps Up Drive to Empower Women in Football Refereeing

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has intensified efforts to promote gender inclusivity in football by introducing a Special Female Referees Course in Salima.

FAM President Fleetwood Haiya said the two-day course, which commenced today, is aimed at empowering more women to take up refereeing roles and contribute to the technical development of football in Malawi.

Haiya said the initiative forms part of FAM’s Transformation Agenda, which seeks to bring meaningful and sustained changes across different areas of the game.

According to Haiya, Malawi has made significant strides in the development of women’s football, and the association is now extending its transformation efforts to refereeing, coaching and other technical areas.

“Transforming the game is not an event, but a continuous process,” Haiya said, stressing the need for collective efforts to achieve greater gender inclusion in football.

He said FAM remains committed to creating more opportunities for women to participate and progress in various technical roles within the sport.

The Special Female Referees Course is therefore expected to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to officiate football matches while opening pathways for more women to pursue refereeing careers.

Haiya called for continued collaboration among football stakeholders to ensure that the transformation agenda becomes a reality.