In a show of open defiance, Malawi national soccer team coach Burkhard Ziese Monday evening turned his back on a disciplinary hearing called by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) to answer accusations leveled against the German coach.

Ziese is accused of insubordination and open defiance; lack of respect for authority; absconding duties without satisfactory reasons; fraud and corruption; lack of submission of match reports and use of abusive language to officials and players.

FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said the disciplinary committee, which was chaired by Blantyre-based lawyer John Gift Mwakhwawa, went ahead with the hearing without the controversial coach and was supposed to come up with a verdict Tuesday evening.

But the German mentor, appearing unstirred, said he saw no reason why he should attend the meeting because there is no such provision in the agreement, as he refuses to call it a contract, which he signed with the association.

Nyamilandu said: "It is very disappointing that Burkhard decided to disregard the disciplinary hearing after being served with official communication on Friday. He was given the letters by FAM technical director Eddie Ng'onamo in the presence of two other coaches - John Kaputa and Grey Chimphepo.

"Some members of the committee traveled all the way from Lilongwe but Burkhard decided not to come without giving any explanation," said the FAM president.

The four-man disciplinary committee, which included Gaston Mwenelupembe, Professor Al Mtenje and Henry Chibowa, waited in vain for the coach for two hours at the FAM Technical Centre in Chiwembe Township in Blantyre before convening for a verdict.

At that time, Ziese was reported to be unwinding at Country Club Limbe after drilling the Under-23 national soccer team. But the coach denied disregarding the hearing.

"We signed an agreement and it is important that it must be followed even though FAM has breached it between 50 and 70 times.

"In the agreement, nowhere is it stipulated that a disciplinary committee shall arbitrate on differences between me and FAM and that is why I did not show up, simple," he said.

The coach said that only the minister of sports can mediate in disputes between the two parties and if nothing comes out, then it is supposed to be taken up with FIFA.

However, the FAM boss brushed off the coach's claims, saying the issue had not yet reached the level of arbitration.

Source: Xinhua