Malta FA Chief Executive Officer Bjorn Vassallo yesterday revealed that there was a drop in attendances for the BOV Premier League matches last season.
He attributed the downturn to the general elections held last March but said there were positives to derive from the 2012-13 campaign including the national team’s fine display in a World Cup qualifier in Armenia and the fact that member clubs continued to benefit from a better distribution of funds.
“The season could not have ended on a brighter note as, at the referee’s final whistle on June 7 in Yerevan... the national team won a competitive match away from home after a 20-year wait,” Vassallo said.
“It was a win that meant a lot after all the negative aspects that cast a shadow over the national squad and the credibility of Maltese football.
“As CEO as well as a person who works, follows and supports the national team, I’m very satisfied that thanks to their sacrifice and commitment, the players and technical staff gave us a massive lift which should lead us to allay any lingering doubts about the love all those involved have for the game.”
Vassallo went into detail on the attendance figures and gate in-come of the clubs over the past five years.
In the Premier League, there was a drop of 21,747 spectators last season compared to the 2011/12 campaign.
Vassallo said the general election left a negative impact on attendances.
“When you consider that we had an election in March and compare this season’s stats with those of 2007/08, when the previous election was also held in March, the numbers show that we have registered the same figures,” Vassallo said.
“In fact, in season 2007/08, a total of 98,028 fans turned up for Premier League matches while last season, the global figure was 98,154.
“This clearly shows that when there is a general election in the middle of the season the impact on attendances is negative. In fact, in the last six years, the only two seasons when Premier League gates dipped below 100,000 were 2007/08 and 2012/13.
“However, it is worth noting that this was not the case in so far as the income of clubs is concerned. When you compare the money distributed in seasons 2007/08 and 2012/13, you will find that last term the clubs shared a total of €205,689, an increase of €128,960 on 2008.”
The highest attendance in the last five years was in 2010/11 when 132,208 watched the Premier League matches.
“These fluctuations are also reflected in the lower divisions.
“So much so that in the first, second and third divisions we had the same results which highlight these trends every time there is a general election as well as in the greater income of clubs over the past three seasons since the new administration of the MFA decided to give up its percentage from the revenue of registered clubs,” Vassallo added.
“It’s worth reminding that the MFA covers the costs of the match officials and the venues where the games are played.
“In conclusion, I would like to add that, when you compare the last three years of the present administration, led by Norman Darmanin Demajo, with the previous three years, the clubs’ income in all divisions has in-creased significantly.”
Double income
The figures released yesterday show that the clubs’ gate receipts have more than doubled in the last three-year term... €897,158 compared to €381,199 between 2007 and 2010.
Vassallo noted that the initiatives undertaken by the current MFA administration had reaped massive financial benefits for the clubs.
“For yet another season, we have managed to turn a situation of financial loss for our clubs in the first and second division into one of gain.
“In the third division, although there was a minimal deficit, we still recorded considerable improvement when compared with the massive losses these clubs encountered in the past,” Vassallo purred.
“This is all thanks to the mechanisms adopted by the MFA to help clubs get back on their feet.
“In the last three years, we also introduced a series of incentives for women’s football which benefited all the teams taking part in the first and second divisions. Today, the expenses of these clubs have diminished considerably.
“Here, I would like to thank Bank of Valletta for the continuous support they give to the MFA and its members. The bank’s financial assistance is helping us to boost the revenue of our clubs with the aim of increasing investment in the game in general.
“A special thanks goes to Michael Galea as in the last three years not only have we worked hand-in-hand but also because BOV and the association looked at new opportunities in an open way.”