Dimech sees red over hair colour as Buttigieg names 18-man squad

Chris Sciberras

Aug 13th 2009, 18:21

Malajr hadtuha r-risposta. Michael Mifsud, a clubless player 2 Giorgia 0. Well done Mike. And with a natural hair colour..................

Norbert Bugeja

Aug 12th 2009, 09:29

@R.Cauchi

As far as Michael Mifsud is concerned he's just a player that is so good that he didn't find a club willing to sign him......while many other Maltese players are already doing their duties and playing regularly for their clubs abroad...I don't doubt his ability but no matter how much you train it's thro playing football that you get match fitness remember that Mr Cauchi

Norbert Bugeja

Aug 12th 2009, 08:05

@Mr J.Mifsud

2 wrongs don't make one right (if there's anything wrong with a hairstyle when it's football we are talking about) but i would deal with more DISGRACEFUL ISSUES FIRST before trying to give examples on basic issues....

@ Chris Sciberras

I would rather not blush with a bad result and field the best players it's football not fashion

Alan Cordina

Aug 11th 2009, 22:46

Good ! One less to worry about during the time and resources wasting MFA team ! Can the rest of our Valletta players please immediately apply some red, orange and bright pink colour to their hair and jog right up to Johnny tomorrow morning please !! So that you'll be released even before the game, without kicking a ball, and please return to train properly with the Club that is paying your salaries !! and not risk any injury like Cleaven Frendo's !! After all you know we don't care, not even slightly, about the waste of time and resources MFA team. We are Valletta Citizens BEFORE we are Maltese. Always has been and always will be !

Chris Sciberras

Aug 11th 2009, 22:10

Prosit John. Carnival is celebrated in Valletta in February and not in Valletta by valletta football players. If one needs to be noticed in the stadium, it should be solely by his football qualities. So thanks for saveing us going RED with blushes.
I also appreciate the opinion of an ex footballer here below, that is of the same opinion.

Forza Malta

J.Mifsud

Aug 11th 2009, 20:37

The national kit is the 'uniform' of the national team. The report states that Mr Buttigieg asked Mr Dimech to change the colour. Which means, he would have given him the opportunity to play.

I'm sorry, as much as I am annoyed at seeing Mr Dimech out of the line-up, I think that discipline should come first.

@ Mr Bugeja. Two wrongs do not make a right.

joseph farrugia

Aug 11th 2009, 20:36

from here i make an appeal to the valletta supporters not to attend the malta game to show our respect for luke dimech. i was going to the match but from now on....no way...mr formosa appealed to show respect for mr buttigieg.....again no way.

PAUL VASSALLO

Aug 11th 2009, 20:20

I agree with the Malta football Coach .He is training the players for football and not for a circus

lorry fabri

Aug 11th 2009, 20:10

What does respect has to do with football; Luke should be judge in the areas, were football is concerned, if Luke is a prima donna we only have babies in the national team, and because he towers above the rest were commitment is concerned. The team will miss his lion heart attitude, let’s concentrate on football, this is discrimination.

Rodnick Abdilla

Aug 11th 2009, 19:31

ma nafx jew f holma jew qed nimagina . ahna fuq football qed nitkellmu ta mhux moda. Jien jekk ikolli bniedem kapaci fuq xgholu jista jghamel u jilbes li irrid basta dak li nitlob minnu jghamlu

Steve Borg

Aug 11th 2009, 19:10

Have you forgotten the Romanian football team in the 1998 World Cup? If Buttigieg was in charge all the team would have been dropped... Can' understand the policy to drop a player because of his style.

Steve Borg

Aug 11th 2009, 19:07

Have you forgotten the Romanian football team in the 1998 World Cup? If Buttigieg was in charge he would have dropped them all... lol I can't understand the policy of dropping a player because of his style.

j.spiteri

Aug 11th 2009, 18:41

was john buttigieg appointed national coach or national fashion designer???please let the football do the talking and not his dire need af attention.i am not a valletta supporter but luke is one of our most consistent defenders .what next ??will he be ordering them all to shave a certain way or leave the squad too???after matches we will be say that we might have lost but at least we had matching hair styles.

Martin Nielsen

Aug 11th 2009, 18:38

If the NT Manager has discipline as one of his priorities (and naturally, there is a great deal of difference from manager to manager), I feel he has the right to choose only those players who show the proper amount of respect and fit into the environment/have the right mentality. Of course, he might seem old-fashioned, but I do think it is *his right* to choose - even though Malta certainly will be weakened by Dimech's departure.

Ian Zammit

Aug 11th 2009, 18:22

If this was Brazil and we had many oher players to choose from this might have been a good idea. Considering we are far from being Brazil and every player is very important to the team and every player's absence is felt I think this was as dumb an idea as they come. Who cares if he dyes his hair, we need him, he plays. From now on if a club wants to retain a player from joining the national team they can ask him to dye his hair and Buttigieg will take him off himself.

joseph farrugia

Aug 11th 2009, 18:19

tajjeb eh.. missom irmewh lill beckham l inglizi. prosit diga bdejt taqa ghan nej*. kulhadd jinsih tieghu ghandu jkun.

joseph farrugia

Aug 11th 2009, 18:17

you dropped a defender like luke because of his hair...you forgot your old times john. well done luke. youre a valletta player and we dont care for malta. remember were not maltin....ahna beltin. well see the results after the game.

Norbert Bugeja

Aug 11th 2009, 17:19

@ Mr J.Mifsud

Ok let's keep comparing policemen and footballers.....which i don't agree but the point is ...if a policeman does not do his duty well he's sacked ..... we have not improved a little bit...Remember Turkey for example....i remember them being hammered by England 8-0 with Lineker grabbing a hat trick...now they are a team feared by all...and managed to place themselves 3rd in a world cup.....that's progress that's what the Supporter wants to see....

And in Maltese football there are other cases which are still pending and have been PENDING SINCE LAST SEASON which is more important that one with Red Coloured hair ......what happened to the pending issues which ruined the Maltese Pride last season?????

What is more damaging to the pride of Malta ? Red Haired Luke Dimech or else Pending Stuff which ruined the image of Maltese football?

@M.Cachia .......Calling Luke a primadonna.......if there was a player who was 100% consistent and was impecable last season was luke....seems you don't follow football that much...

smifsud

Aug 11th 2009, 17:09

as always its unbelievable ..they violated this players human rights in the Rights of expression ...what if had an earing or chain and cross around his neck ?....i think its rediculas and its not a good start for this new coach ....Malta 0 ... 4 ....Georgia and mthe headlines will read ....Malta sees RED !!!

A Caruana

Aug 11th 2009, 16:57

There should be no place for national team players that think that they are going for a carnival. the problem is not the red hair but the red hair with his style!

Mark Mifsud

Aug 11th 2009, 16:16

How can people say that Luke Dimech lacks respect! This is a player who has played abroad for professional clubs, holds numerous caps for his country and has captained his respective clubs and country on many occasions. Would a player have achieved all this if he had no respect for his club, team mates and country!?!

Are people saying that a persons hair colour truly determine what sort of a person you are??

I am afraid that the truth behind this is that without Luke, we lose arguably our best defender and unfortunately will lead to the score margin being much bigger than usual!

I think Mr Buttigieg needs to introduce himself to the year 2009 - as these narrow minded views were left back in the 60's!!

R Cauchi

Aug 11th 2009, 16:15

Well done to Buttigieg, in Malta we don't advance due to lack of disciple of our players, I hope that this will change the attitude of some players now and also Dimech will start to show some respect!

@Norbert Bugeja As for Michael Mifsud well he trains regularly for sure with the national team as all the other players are doing, the league has not started so all players have the same level of fitness and well if you follow Michael you might know that he is by far better than all other maltese players!

C Taliana

Aug 11th 2009, 16:14

@ M. Cachia - make us laugh what can MFA do without clubs? Can it sustain the players on its own? - NO

So please tell us what solution you have at hand?!

Clint E Taliana

Aug 11th 2009, 16:04

@ Mr. Mifsud - I am not questioning whether the players have the national team at heart . this is up to them and their feelings. I have NEVER seen a Maltese player cry when singing the national anthem either. I'm personally not hurt to see Luke or any other Valletta player not play in the national team and most players know that the majority of Valletta supporters feel the same way too.

So much for freedom of expression please widen the ' simply doesn't go'. I don't think that the police force is the same 'equipe' as a football team. Why don't we ban tattooes as well while we're at it?!

This is very subjective ot one's point of view... anyways Buttigieg showed his mettle as a B'Kara coach didn't he? Am simply sorry he wore our shirt once thats all!

M. Cachia

Aug 11th 2009, 15:32

Well Done John Buttigieg.
this is the type of discipline our nation deserves and needs ... no space for primadonnas in our national team. Clubs can do whatever they want.
Forza Malta

J.Mifsud

Aug 11th 2009, 15:22

Mr Taliana, i can fully understand what you are saying, believe me. but dying ones hair red and expect to wear a national kit simply doesn't go. i'm frustrated as much as you are that dimech isn't playing, but try to answer my question... would you imagine a policeman with his/her hair dyed red? no. because it doesn't go.

there is a certain pride one carries when wearing the national kit. why do you think you see players with tears in their eyes when their national anthem is played? surely not because they're afraid of the game?!

mario dalli

Aug 11th 2009, 15:14

Thanks a million Mr Lippi Buttigieg. Hope you do us a bigger favour and send all Valletta FC players home.

Clint E Taliana

Aug 11th 2009, 15:10

@ J. Mifsud - who said that I belong to such a NATION?! The term refers and is valid for me and quite a handful of supporters who go watch a MALTESE football match every weekend (yes every weekend paying 8 Euros to sit on a CRAPPY dirty seat). Yes we do love our TEAM but can't care less if the national team get a beating (believe it or not).

And if people who 'feel' so much for the NATION do the same every weekend then yes we true supporters could give some attention to the national squad (whoever plays or coaches).

C Debono

Aug 11th 2009, 14:54

haha this is ridicuous.. we can mention lists of players who dyed their hair, had funny hairstyles, did loads of tattoos..etc. (does anyone remember Cisse??) did any Frech, English, Spanish Club manager remove any of these players?? Was there an issue of lack of respect for the National Team?! Of course not- we are meant to focus on the talent of the player!! In Malta it seems things are different..its a total joke

Roderick Axisa

Aug 11th 2009, 14:30

I urge all Valletta national players to colour their hair, at least temporarily just to avoid national call ups. All you can get from the national side is an injury, just like the one Cleavon Frendo got (and he is still out after months). Do MFA give any compensation to the player and club when they got injured? They can only improve their performances by training with the club's professional coach Ton Caanen and not with an amateur that is trying to gain attention by stupid decisions.

J.Mifsud

Aug 11th 2009, 14:13

@Mr Taliana... if the national team for you is crap, why not make do without it in the first place? in case you haven't noticed, the word NATIONAL refers to something belonging to a NATION. as such it is representing - in this case - Malta.

i'm sorry, he's sporting a national kit, and unless the kit calls for red dyed hair, then no, it shouldn't be allowed.

Norbert Bugeja

Aug 11th 2009, 13:50

@P.Borg

Who do you support so i can reply to your comment about Valletta Celebrating the double?

There is Pride in wearing the Shirt of the National team and PRIDE in wearing the Valletta shirt the BEST TEAM on this ISLAND

Elaine Mifsud

Aug 11th 2009, 13:50

If all the national teams of all sports everywhere in the world use the same way of thinking of our national coach the best players in the world would sit at home watch their national team lose. I am afraid that without Luke leading the defence the score margin will be much bigger than usual then we'll have much to be proud of.

P Borg

Aug 11th 2009, 13:40

Probably he was still in celebration mode after winning the double with Valletta during the past season!!

P Borg

Aug 11th 2009, 13:34

Wearing a uniform carries with it an obligation to respect it. Same applies for the national team kit. If he does what he pleases when wearing the Valletta FC football gear, then let him wear that gear only... but not the national team gear, when REAL PRIDE is at stake.

Clint E Taliana

Aug 11th 2009, 12:57

Well done Butigieg, I urge all the City players to dye their hair so we can get over this national team crap and concentrate on who's paying the players their salaries and investing heavily in them.

AGAIN WELL DONE - I'm more than confident that a player in red hair does well as much as having his hair black/brown/yellow or whatever his colour is.

Norbert Bugeja

Aug 11th 2009, 12:55

Can someone reply to my question?

How come Michael Mifsud who is surely not match fit was chosen in the squad?

J. Muscat

Aug 11th 2009, 12:39

well done John! players should concentrate on the match and not on these stupid shenanigans. This is the sort of discipline we want to see in the pitch and full concentration for the whole match!
I believe in whoever the 18 players are but they have to show passion and respect MY country!
Forza Malta!!! Lil din l-art helwa....

martha calleja

Aug 11th 2009, 12:39

is this a fashion show they will be undertaking of a football match? whats his hair got to do with the ability of the player? ONLY IN MALTA

Lennard Kelder

Aug 11th 2009, 12:39

What a fuss for nothing. I hope for the COMPLETE NATION OF MALTA that Dimech will not decide to withdraw from playing for the national team. His experience and class is needed for Malta, the national team will have a big problem without him. Once Carmel Busuttil refused to play under then Malta coach Milorad Kosanovic which duly affected the team (cohesion and self confidence) and performances. I cannot do else but condem Buttigieg's decision, I hope in fact that this is a joke.......

Norbert Bugeja

Aug 11th 2009, 11:58

@Mr Mifsud.....

The beckham case was mentioned already...he was never dropped because of his hairstyle... football is about football not about fashion...if u're good you play....

I guess we are talking about doing progress in Football and....i guess hairstyle is not a football skill.....or am i wrong?

Can i be called in the national team my hair is not red :)

Michael Gatt

Aug 11th 2009, 11:56

Totally in sync with John Buttigieg on this one... its high time Maltese players learn some self-discipline, and this is certainly the way forward. The new coach has indeed started on the right-note!!

TONY FORMOSA

Aug 11th 2009, 11:36

*PROVIDED ALL THE PRINTED DETAILS ARE FACTUAL, I TOTALLY BACK JOHN BUTTIGIEG's DECISION.

NO ONE IS INDESPENSABLE IN THE MALTA SQUAD AND THE SELECTED PLAYERS KNOW THAT A FEW CHANGES WILL NOT AFFECT THE ACTUAL STRENGTH OF THE TEAM.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THEY THEY ARE MADE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE LEAST THEY CAN DO IS TO SHOW RESPECT.

JOHN BUTTIGIEG HAS WON
HIS FIRST TEST.

HERE'S WISHING THE MAN AN EXCELLENT START IN HIS NEW CAREER.

TONY FORMOSA
TONY FORMOSA

Patrick bellia

Aug 11th 2009, 11:34

Immagine Fabio Capello not dropping out of the squad David James because he has his hair yellow, or not calling players because they have many tattoos, players must be choosen for their abilities and not being dropped because of their hair colour. We are a very small country and so we have our limitations from where to choose so i think it was not a good idea to drop him out because he is one of the best defenders in malta

F.Williams

Aug 11th 2009, 11:01

Thanks John...hope all the Valletta players do the same thing!! : -) Whats wrong with strange hairstyles......Do you remember Beckham` s Mohican hair style...was he dropped from that?? Recshould have matched the national strip.. Whatever.....Again a big THANKS from the city faithful!

Ivan Attard

Aug 11th 2009, 10:37

Well done John Buttigieg. Players who do not respect the image should be dropped until they fall in line with rules laid out by the bosses.

Jason Bugeja

Aug 11th 2009, 09:58

Hi to everybody
I dont really follow the football game but I cannot under stand how he doesnt want to let him play.What are the MFA regulations about hair colours? I will be happy if some body answer me?
10q
only in MALTA

Franz Tabone

Aug 11th 2009, 09:50

Well Done John
It is about time that footballers concentrate on their football and not on fancy image rubbish. It is bad enough that tottooing has been glorified by footballers worldwide.
If luke Dimech takes a good look at the mirror I am sure that he regrets what he has done to his looks.
Whilst not disputing dimech's talents I am sure that some sort of discipline will only enhance his capabilities.
Franz Tabone

J.Mifsud

Aug 11th 2009, 09:46

norbert, perhaps because he will be wearing the national kit? that's the same as a uniform. can you imagine a police constable or a soldier, or someone else who wears a national uniform with red hair? not really, can you? wearing a uniform carries with it an obligation to respect it. whether or not it's a friendly match, is irrelevant. the national kit is worn.

Norbert Bugeja

Aug 11th 2009, 09:25

It's incredible 1st joke by the new Manager Dropping a player because of hair colour and not because of his football ability who is unquestionable.....

Why Mifsud was chosen he hasn't had a club for quiet some time now ????

Does name count more then the ability of the player?

Luke is definitly the best defender and his partnership with Kenneth Scicluna has no competition on the positive side Luke will be more fresh for the Best team in Malta VALLETTA F.C