The Malta FA reported revenues of €7.4 million last season compared to €7.5m the previous term while the annual expenditure went up from €5.2 to €5.6 million, according to the association’s financial report for season 2013/14.

Despite posting a surplus of €1.6 million, the Malta FA ended the year with an accumulated deficit of €1.4 million owing to the significant investment to upgrade the clubs’ facilities (€2.8m) combined with the adverse balance of €823,188 that was carried forward from the previous term.

The audited accounts, presented for the first time by Ivan Mizzi who was elected MFA Honorary Treasurer at last year’s AGM, revealed a slight increase in the income from international matches, mainly from television rights, as well as a one-off contribution of €1.4 million from UEFA to cover the organisation of the European Under-17 Championship, staged here last May.

Sponsorship income for the national teams amounted to €135,405.

Mizzi explained that the hike in bonuses and appearance money, from €110,946 in season 2012/13 to €160,836 last season, resulted from the payment of bonuses to national team players following the historic 1-0 win away to Armenia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.

The accounts for national teams, youth and grassroots development showed a surplus of €1.8m (€1m in 2013), thanks largely to UEFA’s grant in relation to the U-17 Championship.

After the audited accounts had been endorsed by the AGM, MFA president Norman Darmanin Demajo reminded the assembly that the Malta FA have invested €20 million on clubs’ facilities over the past four years.

He appealed to the clubs to ensure that their facilities are maintained properly, warned them not to expect a “second helping” from the association.

“As you have just seen, the MFA posts an annual surplus but ends the year with a deficit as all the money is being re-invested into the clubs’ facilities,” Darmanin Demajo said.

Meanwhile, local clubs spent nearly €7 million in season 2012/13, according to figures published in the MFA administrative report. Spending by nurseries accounted for 23 per cent of the total sum as declared by local football clubs.

The clubs that invest most in their nurseries are those of the Premier League but, when the expenditure of clubs is compared to that of the nurseries, the highest investment percentage is recorded in Division Three.

Premier League clubs spent a total of €4,120,605 in season 2012/13 while the nurseries’ outlay for the same division amounted to €750,537 (percentage18.2%).

Division One: Clubs’ expenditure €1,304,593, nurseries €355,736 (percentage 27.3%).

Division Two: Clubs €1,044,177, nurseries €314,776 (30.1%).

Division Three: Clubs €468,441; nurseries €148,695 (31.7%).

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