Careless clubs will suffer, warns MFA president

Failure to meet the criteria incorporated in UEFA's licensing scheme would result in Maltese clubs missing out on participation in UEFA club competitions as from season 2004-2005.

This bold warning was issued by Malta FA president Joe Mifsud who slammed those clubs that have repeatedly ignored the association's efforts to help them prepare for the new licensing system.

"Had the clubs heeded our advice and adhered to the regulations laid down by the Malta FA, they would have solved many of the problems hampering their progress," Mifsud, a member of the UEFA executive committee, told a news conference at the MFA technical centre yesterday.

"Those clubs that refused to take on board our recommendations are encountering many difficulties and would find it very hard to obtain a licence. Clubs who fail to secure a licence would relinquish their right to take part in European competitions," Mifsud said.

"The moment of truth has arrived but we had advised clubs about this scenario a few years back. The MFA has striven to make things easier for our clubs by introducing the clubs' licensing system. We were lenient in our approach because our intention was not to impose certain regulations on clubs but rather to encourage them to organise themselves," Mifsud said.

"Next year, our clubs will have no other choice but to come to terms with the reality that will engulf the entire European family. Those competing in Europe will have their licence assessed by UEFA.

"That means that the MFA must strictly abide by the conditions stipulated by UEFA because failure to do so would create certain repercussions. Imagine what would happen if our power to issue licences to local clubs is revoked because a licence is found not to be in accordance with their regulations," Mifsud warned.

Basically, clubs must show a clean financial bill of health by having paid all the contractual obligations to non-amateur players, coaches and staff, must have their accounts audited by professional people and must also meet a series of administrative measures among which are those binding clubs to have written contracts with personnel, including a doctor, physio and media officer.

"The problem with most of our clubs is that they are not realising the extent of the situation when the licensing policy at UEFA becomes mandatory next year," Mifsud said.

Talk of meeting new standards has been commonplace here in the last few years as the debate on the European Union raged on. Malta's accession to full membership on May 1, 2004 is sure to have an impact on local football and the clubs.

"UEFA is organising a meeting on May 20 for associations from the 10 EU new members," Mifsud said when asked to elaborate.

"One of the speakers will be Guenther Verheugen, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement. The meeting will discuss the effects EU accession is likely to have on football in the new member countries.

"Obviously, certain regulations restricting the freedom of workers have to be changed. We checked with the Malta-EU Information Centre whether we can apply for an exemption in view of the special arrangement obtained by the government. However, that arrangement can only be invoked if there is a large influx of foreign workers," Mifsud said.

"In football terms, freedom of movement of workers within the EU applies to non-amateur players. In the meantime, UEFA has been lobbying with the EU to include an article or protocol in the EU convention whereby sports is awarded a specific status," Mifsud added.

Many countries in Europe are also pushing for a new legislation on the number of home-grown players each club must have.

Most of them agree that each club must have at least six home-grown players in their team and according to Mifsud, the feedback from the EU commissioners on this matter was positive. UEFA has also opened an office in Brussels to strengthen its presence among the EU decision-makers.

"My hope is that by the time Malta officially joins the EU on May 1, 2004, the issues relating to sports, in our case football, will be clearer," Mifsud said.

Bayern TV deals

The Malta FA was last weekend mentioned in reports in a German newspaper, accusing Bayern Munich of arranging friendly matches with small football associations in return for support for Germany's 2006 World Cup bid. Bayern Munich played against a Malta FA selection in January, 2001.

Asked for his reaction to these claims, Mifsud said that the MFA's position is reflected in the comments of Franz Beckenbauer, the chairman of the World Cup organising committee, who strong denied any wrongdoing.