Hibs Ground issue flares up again at MFA AGM

Dr Joe Mifsud yesterday practically spelt finis to the Hibs Ground's chances of staging Champions League football after saying that according to international rules the National Stadium is the only venue suitable to host matches from UEFA's elite competition for clubs.

Addressing the annual general meeting at the Centenary Hall, Ta' Qali, the Malta FA president said that Europe's governing body of football only accept stadia which have at least a covered capacity of 3,000 seats.

Until a few weeks ago, the ground at Corradino lacked seating facilities but these were installed just in time for Sliema Wanderers' first leg against FC Skonto earlier this month.

However, the new measures were made to accommodate only around 1,200 spectators.

"According to UEFA guidelines it's clear that the only adequate stadium for Champions League football here is the National Stadium," Dr Mifsud replied after Hibs council member Edward Chetcuti had asked why the Hibs Ground was suddenly declared not suitable for Champions League football when the Sliema-FC Skonto match was played there without a hitch.

"UEFA is urging that Champions League matches will be played in grounds of a certain standard, with, at least, 3,000 spectators sitting under a canopy. At the moment the National Stadium is the only one in Malta that fulfils such requirement.

"In recent weeks," he added, "many had criticised the MFA because we have asked for certain guarantees from our clubs competing in Europe. Few would realise though the huge expenses we have to fork out to provide a pitch in top shape for these matches at this particular time of the year," he said.

"Looking at our financial books we cannot say we're in an ideal position because of such expenses. I think it is more than justifiable for the association to ask for financial guarantees from these clubs. There was a big fuss about this but I think it was all blown out of proportion. We only asked for a share of the money they receive from UEFA. At the end of the day it is the MFA that have to face the bill of running a ground."

Here, Robert Arrigo asked to speak on the matter but Dr Mifsud stopped the Sliema Wanderers FC president. He could not intervene during the general meeting, Dr Mifsud said, as he was not registered as a club delegate or a council member.

Arrigo was involved in a bitter dispute with the MFA before the July 16 match at the Hibs Ground as he deemed that a Lm5,000 guarantee was too high.

At first, UEFA gave its go-ahead for the match at Corradino. However, the Competitions Department in Nyon informed Sliema on Thursday that the Hibs Ground was not suitable for Champions League matches and as such their home leg against FC Copenhagen had to be played at Ta' Qali.

No specific reasons were given in that message but yesterday Sliema received another fax in which UEFA highlighted what was behind their decision. Among the four points highlighted was a lack of scoreboard and PA system and a control room where security staff could monitor proceedings in case of urgent safety measures.

Hibs delegate Jesmond Abela yesterday told council members that as things stand it does not seem viable any more for clubs to take part in European competitions.

Most of the time, he said, clubs are spending more than the amount they received from UEFA.

The response from the MFA president was straightforward.

"As from next season things will be clearer," he said.

"In December, those clubs interested in participating in Europe will have to negotiate a contract with the MFA for the use of the National Stadium and if they are not ready to accept our offer then they will be withheld from playing in Europe... it's as simple as that."

Drop in attendances

The new UEFA licences were also mentioned during the AGM yesterday. Dr Mifsud said UEFA had just approved the guidelines proposed by the MFA regarding the new licensing system. This matter will be discussed in the next council meeting.

Dr Mifsud said UEFA had also accepted that the MFA Appeals Board will include a lawyer and an accountant who can handle better matters on licences. Clubs were urged yesterday to put their financial books in order. If not, they will have problems with UEFA and could be stopped from playing in Europe, Dr Mifsud warned.

The administrative report gave an insight on domestic competitions. The alarming news was a fall in attendances in all divisions.

Last season the total attendance was 127,476 - a slump of around 46,000 when compared to the 2001/02 figures. The Premier League had the major loss - 38,635 fewer than the previous campaign.

The financial report revealed an excess of expenditure over income. The total expenditure on the national team was Lm324,901 with Lm140,000 reserved for accommodation when abroad. The players were paid Lm42,596 in training allowances and Lm13,985 in appearance bonuses.

The share of gate-money at the National Stadium registered a drop. The latest figure of Lm25,468 was significantly lower than the previous sum of Lm38,863.

The negative aspect was also ref-lected in the overall income of the National Stadium - Lm86,032, Lm19,721 less.

One of the major concerns for the MFA is the Centenary Stadium where a loss of Lm43,000 was recorded.

Dr Mifsud said the association had no other option but to increase charges on clubs to keep up with the huge expenses incurred at this artificial-turf ground.

"We have some serious planning to do on the Centenary Stadium," he said.

"The surface must be re-laid and, since in two years' time international matches could be staged on artificial turf, we have to see that it's according to international standards," Dr Mifsud said.

Elections

Amendments proposed for the MFA statute were discussed in the afternoon session. Elections for ordinary members in the Executive Committee were held as well. Officials in the executive face elections next year.

Joe Gauci and Paul Spiteri retained their seats as Premier League clubs representatives. Ivan Calamatta and Charles J. Scerri were elected on behalf of First Division clubs while Salvu Vella and Joseph Farrugia were elected on behalf of Second and Third Division clubs.

Charles Calleja and Ray Micallef are the delegates to represent Member Clubs and Joe Micallef will represent the Youth FA. At first, there was only one nominee from Member Associa-tions, Joseph Cassar Naudi. He was later joined by Alfred Spiteri.