MFA council to reconvene on September 17

The 2009/10 BOV Premier League came to a halt after only two match-days when last night club delegates convinced the MFA executive committee to suspended the competition until the situation returns to normal following a ruling on a match-fixing case that had Vittoriosa Stars FC thrown out of the top flight.

The situation in which the Premier League had drifted into following the bribery cases that rocked the local game, and the ruling imposed on Vittoriosa last month by the MFA Board to investigate corrupt practices, was discussed at length during a council meeting at Ta' Qali.

Vittoriosa were heavily fined and demoted to Division One with immediate effect for their part in a bribery case that occurred before a league match last December.

Another case being dealt with by the same MFA board, involving Premier League club Marsaxlokk, is likely to reach a conclusion this week.

With Vittoriosa already sounding their intent to launch an appeal against the MFA verdict and the issue likely to drag on for more weeks, delegates from the Premier League and Division One yesterday argued that the championship had to stop immediately until the process of appeal and arbitration is over.

It was also agreed after a motion proposed by Paul Spiteri, of Valletta FC, that ten teams will form part of Division One and another ten in the Premier League this season.

Many contended yesterday that interest will wane and there will be a considerable loss of gate-money with nine teams or less in the top flight while delegates of Division One clubs argued that they will be faced with a bigger financial burden with more than ten teams in competition.

When the council reconvenes on September 17, delegates will continue to discuss the subject, particularly the team to replace Vittoriosa Stars in the top flight.

Msida St Joseph, who finished ninth in the Premier League last season and were relegated along with bottom-placed Ħamrun Spartans, are favourites to regain their status in the top flight.

However, a final decision will be taken on September 17, also giving enough time for the board to reach a verdict on the Marsaxlokk case.

With an international week reserved for September 4-5, the MFA decision to postpone the Premier League until September 17 will only affect one programme of matches from the Premier League.

That includes the clash between Sliema Wanderers and Valletta, originally earmarked for Monday, September 14.

Meanwhile, the MFA Council yesterday approved Vittoriosa Stars FC's request to release their three foreign players, namely, Henry Isaac (Nigeria), Nikola Vukanac (Serbia) and Martin Hrubsa (Czech Republic), from the contracts they had signed with the club this summer.

Vukanac will be joining Birkirkara in the Premier League.

It was also revealed that if Vittoriosa Stars' match-fixing sentence is confirmed after the appeals process is completed, UEFA will automatically impose a five-year ban on the Maltese club from competing in European competitions.