The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has said that that it is in receipt of a press query with regards the alleged refusal by Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to allow City of Lusaka to use the Woodlands Stadium.
In a statement released to the media, the allegation is that FAZ has told City of Lusaka not to use Woodlands Stadium because it is branded with Vodafone, the sponsors of City of Lusaka.
According to FAZ, the presence of the Vodafone brand is in violation of the sponsorship that FAZ has with MTN Zambia as the the official sponsors of the Zambian Super Division League.
Below is the full statement
PRESS RELEASE
____________________________________________________
Refusal by FAZ to allow City of Lusaka to use the Woodlands Stadium
For Immediate Use
7th September, 2017
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has a mandate to promote, strengthen and regulate the way competition works in the Zambian markets by ensuring that there is a level playing field for all enterprises as they conduct business to improve the efficiency of the economy.
The Commission wishes to inform the public that it is in receipt of a press query with regards the alleged refusal by Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to allow City of Lusaka to use the Woodlands Stadium allegedly because it is branded Vodafone, City of Lusaka sponsors while MTN Zambia the official sponsors of the Zambian Super Division League are a business competitor in the provision of mobile products and services.
The Commission endeavours to ensure that all players conducting business in the country do so in a manner that is devoid of anti-competitiveness. This requirement is more stringent for dominant players in every sector as they have an added responsibility to ensure that they do not forestall the progress of their competitors.
In this regard, the Commission would like to state that the issue of FAZ and City of Lusaka is currently being assessed by the Commission to ascertain whether the conduct indeed did occur and the potential implications it might have on fostering a competitive economic environment.
Therefore, the Commission will endeavour to get necessary information regarding this matter to enable a thoroughly assessment. The media will be updated of the outcome and if indeed the conduct violated the Competition and Consumer Protection Act No. 24 of 2010, appropriate remedial measures are put in place to avoid any such occurrences.
Namukolo M. Kasumpa
Public Relations Officer
CCPC
Just cover the adverts with bed shirts! My bad, the shirts will disappear by half time!!
This is stupid of FAZ. They have zero conflict resolution strategy just like Lungu.
If ECL needs recognition he must first recognize NS Mumba as the legal MMD president.
No institution in Zambia recognized ECL, the courts, not even the ConCourt recognises ECL.
Now MTN wants recognition. This disease is spreading.
This case taken to CCPC with office in Zambia will take 2 years, until they exhaust all possible bribes they get from FAZ-MTN, unfortunately less corrupt VODAFONE spent so much money to renovate Woodlands stadium.
Kamanga succks, at least Kalusha received bribes abroad, not from local league.
Why do UPND i.d.i.o.t.s spoil a good day with such r.u.b.b.i.s.h like Mama?
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), they exist? Please, please please… kindly find out why Chinese contractors are so dominant in this country. We would like to know your position on that.
I hear Chinese contractors will now be working on palaces for Chiefs at the expense of local contractors… ironically some local contractors live in the same chiefdoms where these Chinese will be operating from… interesting, Zambia..
The Chinese contractors are thriving because most locals don’t deliver. My company is a victim of such swindling
Ubu mwena bupuba ubwapwililika. These are rubbish contracts FAZ is signing. We want development soccer and not greediness
Ask Kalusha who signed this contract.On this one Kamanga wakayele
This is bull… whoever signed that MTN contract is silly..this is another case of not reading. What if Airtel decides to sponsor Heros Stadium…this why I say FAZ need to wise up and learn from developed leagues for best practice. Clubs like City need funds and the telecomms is one of the profitable sectors!!
That was signed by the once great Kalusha Executive and to run for several years not from 2014…
Am not surprised Great Galu must have signed in a bar
we have sold our children and the country to foreigners. We are always fighting for position and wealth.
Where are we headed?
These fooools are quick to sign contracts instead of letting experienced Sport lawyers from clients from bigger leagues like RSA read through…
MTN sponsors Premier League but they dont sponsor individual clubs. Each club has got its own sponsors. I thought these are simple business equations.
Denkete,you are absolutely right.The premier League is sponsored by Barclays Bank but Arsenal is branded by emirates,the jersey by someone else,so is Liverpool by stanchart and Nkana by Mopani.What business norm is this?
This is very retrogressive from FAZ. Has Barclays the sponsors of the famous premier league stopped covering Liverpool games because Liverpool have a shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered bank?? Has the FA stopped Liverpool from wearing shirts branded with a competitor to Barclays?? Common Kamanga you are better than! As a matter of fact this new Faz campaigned on the lines of improving revenue for local clubs. This is s.illy
But Stand chart only operates in Africa and Asia maybe thats why!!
@Jay Jay, Standard Chart’s HQ is in UK
Imagine if, in future, FAZ was sponsored by Barclays Bank, can they stop ZANACO from participating in the league?
Naku Bola ma politics? Can’t we leave people alone. ?
FAZ can surely be smarter than that.. Heineken sponsors Euefa Champions league but do you see them barring Liverpool because they have/had carlsberg (another beer) on their shirts? Barclays Premier league, Stanchart sponsors Liverpool.. Woodland stadium has been upgraded to a top class stadium (considering what it was and what we have) and now you want to bar its use?? Instead of encouraging others to come to the sponsorship party.. Awe sure this colonial mindset of being told what to do or being grabbed by the ma bola because someone has given you a coin is ahuge put off… Tell MTN to take a hike if they dont agree..someone else will come through.
FAZ YOU SHOULD BETTER YOU ARE LIVING IN YOUR OWN WORLD< JUST LOOK AT THE MOST GREAT LEAGUE IN THE WORLD SPONOURED BY BARCLAYS BUT CLUB HAVE THEIR OWN SPONOURS. WAKE UP STOP LEAVING IN THE PAST LET CITY USE THEIR GROUND. DID YOU ASSIST THEM TO IMPROVE THE STADIUM WITH MTN, JUST BE SENSIBLE. STOP BEING JEALOUS.
Yeah but Barclays doesnt get free adverts on PSL games. They pay if they want to advertise
Does this mean that MTN Zambia has got exclusivity rights to the Woodlands Stadium? If they don’t then, I see no reason refusing City of Lusaka using the Vodafone Stadium!
Simple question: Did MTN pay for improvement of Woodlands Stadium? NO! I smell a rat here! MTN should only benefit from adverts during the games. But may be FAZ must clarify if the deal they signed with MTN includes maintenance of stadium infrastructure across the country…in which case MTN would be justified to complain. But even if that was the case WHY DID FAZ ALLOW VODAFONE TO REVAMP THE STADIUM WHEN THEY KNEW IT WOULD CREATE PROBLEMS WITH MTN. I think Kalusha was better, I take back my criticism of him during his tenure.
Kalusha caused this problem so what makes him better?
The reporting in Zambia is very poor. I dont think this report puts the case across clearly and adequately. Iam sure City have not been denied their homeground as is being alleged here. City have been denied broadcasts of their home games because the league sponsor doesnt want Woodlands to flight free adverts. That is the issue to be discussed at the CCPC
You maybe onto something there Larry, thats the only way this whole thing makes sense and Mtn would be justified to protest. However if thats the case, then Faz has a duty to explain to the club exactly those concerns. When you see a club writing like that, its shows Faz just stopped them without giving that much detail.
The TV broadcast sponsor is DSTV and NOT MTN.
MTN sponsor the league
Thank you Mimbulu for clarifying that. If that’s the case MTN have no case because Vodafone should have bought the naming rights for the stadium. Let’s hear the case as it progresses. Thank you LT for upgrading your story but it still needs more info
Please boma allow Vodafone a full license, MTN are now pathetic you can’t make a call once and hear the person on the other end. MTN and Airtel are an embarrassment and there is a reason I haven’t mentioned Zamtel coz there not worth talking about.
Lord
No wander Vodafone was being blocked to come to Zambia; too much ifimfulunganya. Why don’t they promote rugby or volleyball or another sport kano fye ifyo abanabo babula kale. But internet yabo yena nimbama.
I need to understand the issue here, is MTN sponsoring the league or the club and is VODAFONE sponsoring the club or the league? What is the difference sponsoring the league and sponsoring the club.Can someone shade more light on this issue so that i can make desicive comment.
There should be a separation of FAZ from the local league. That’s the only way the local league can run efficiently and professionally. Expected better from the likes of Ponga and Kamanga.
Again devoid of thinking…just yapping and yapping as usual. Even insulting innocent MTN. Go and read the contract first assuming you have been to school. If you read what the contract says, come and tell us, If you think the contract is flawed and needs to be amended tell us on this blog. Bwetu bwetu all the time and even from an ignorant position. The talking republic