Shame on the MFA

I watched the Malta Premier league decider between Birkirkara and Hibernians.

Here is a breakdown of the type of service everyone received from the Malta Football Association, the entity that is always urging people to attend and support local football.

I found a mere 40 per cent of the total number of ticket booths open and not even one sign showing where the teams’ respective supporters should be seated, resulting in opposing supporters mingling together.

It took me an hour to get my ticket because there were no barriers to guide people in line, leading to everyone pushing to try to get to the ‘ticket booths’. Please note there were also women, children and disabled people in this confusion.

Once in, I spent almost 45 minutes in the shamefully disorganised bar to get a drink, served by unbelievably rude bar staff. I cannot understand why we still need to have those little metal windows that look like something out of Alcatraz.

I had more policemen at my wedding than there were at the stadium. To make matters worse, when supporters were leaving after the game there was a very ‘balanced fight 15 guys against one. Where were the police? It is never a good idea to allow supporters to mix but if you are going to be dumb enough to do so, make it safe.

Shame on everyone at MFA, from the president down. No wonder people don’t come to watch football. I felt like I was in the middle of a jungle.

Maltese football deserves much better. Such a shame!