Malta FA president Norman Darmanin Demajo yesterday expressed satisfaction that agreement had been reached with clubs over the new Premier League format.

Describing the initiative “a joint effort”, Darmanin Demajo told councillors at a meeting in Ta’ Qali that the most important thing was that the solution is acceptable to all parties.

He explained that the first proposals put forward by the association had included play-offs and play-outs, ditching the current two-tier system with points halved at the half-way stage of the championship.

Darmanin Demajo said the new proposals offered a better solution, saying the changes would generate keener competition among all teams as the current format leaves a few of them in the comfort zone with no fear of getting embroiled in the relegation tussle.

Darmanin Demajo again defended the decision to increase the Premier League teams to 12 in 2011/12 rather than cutting the entry field to eight.

“Every club in our fold should have the opportunity to fulfill a dream and play at least once in the top-flight,” he said.

“With eight teams that ambition would have been restricted further.”

The new championship will be played over three rounds.

Malta FA CEO Bjorn Vassallo said points will be halved again after the first two rounds. The third round, however, will see no split between top and bottom teams.

“The teams finishing first and second at the end of first two rounds will play in the final matchday,” Vassallo said in a hope of a repeat to next Saturday’s showdown between Birkirkara and Valletta.

The league winners will play in the Champions League and the second- and third-placed teams, along with the FA Trophy winners, will represent the country in the Europa League.

The bottom two are relegated but the third-bottom team will figure in a decider against the third-placed side in Division One. The winners of this match-up will play in the Premier League the season to follow.

The new format won the support of the majority of council members with only the representative of Floriana FC voting against in disagreement with the relegation play-out.

MFA Council members also discussed the number of foreigners the third-bottom Premier League team can field in the decider in order to restore a level playing field given that clubs from Division One can only play three overseas players in contrast to the five from the top flight.

Following a heated exchange between various club representatives from both divisions, the council voted in favour of an amendment to allow each side to field four foreigners for the decider.

Meanwhile, the new Premier League format got the approval after a vote in favour during an extraordinary general meeting held at the end of the council meeting.

The EGM vote gave the MFA the right to introduce a new format as from the season to follow rather than wait two years as stipulated before by the rules governing the national league. The vote reached the required two-thirds majority even though Premier League club delegates voted against.

Trophy final on May 1

• The final of the FA Trophy between Valletta and Sliema Wanderers, will be played on May 1.

A re-scheduled date of April 30 was changed after a request by the Police Commissioner.

• The MFA incurred a €2,500 penalty after a UEFA delegate reported that no body searches were carried out at the gates before the U-21 qualifier between Malta and Sweden on March 5.

He also reported that alcohol was being sold at the bar during the match.

• Floriana FC were granted permission to take legal action against former club president Steve Vaughan Jr over alleged mis-management of finances during his time at the helm.

The Greens have been ordered to pay their former coach Ian Dawes the sum of €14,075 after upholding the Englishman’s claims of unfair dismissal.

• Naxxar Lions informed the Malta FA that Raymond Catania is the new club president until the end of the season. Dr Catania will be replacing Dione Drago who tendered his resignation last week, citing personal reasons.

• The council voted in favour to change wording in the competition rules to avoid a repeat of the controversy that followed the match between Mosta and Valletta last month.

Mosta had claimed Valletta violated the rules as, for a brief period in the second half, the Citizens had six foreigners on the pitch when Premier League teams can’t have more than five at any time.

The MFA Protests Board re-jected Mosta’s arguments but urged the MFA to amend the wording dealing with regulations on foreigners.

• Former Lija striker Andre Gra-bowski was ordered to pay the Division One club the sum of €2,137 after having fled the country when reportedly landing himself in hot water with the police.

• Qormi will have to pay ex-striker Sebastiano Aurelio Siritto €2,975 after a long-drawn dispute over unpaid wages.

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