Top-flight clubs have voted in favour of a proposal to increase the number of playing foreigners from five to eight and a further three on the bench during a meeting of the Premier League Standing Committee (PLSC), held on Tuesday and hosted by Qormi FC.

Under the current regulations, top-division clubs can field up to five foreigners and a maximum of six in their matchday squad but the overwhelming majority are lobbying the Malta FA to further ease the restrictions on overseas players.

Sources told Times of Malta that a number of clubs initially argued that all restrictions should be lifted but after a lengthy discussion, they agreed on a quota of eight in the first XI plus three home-grown players.

Their reasoning is that foreign players are less expensive to sign than their Maltese counterparts due to the MFA’s transfer compensation regulations, which are also being revised.

Furthermore, the proposed rise in the number of foreigners would enhance competition as well as taking away some of the benefits Maltese players enjoy, especially their bargaining power, officials argued.

Pietà Hotspurs were against the proposal as they contended that this move would undermine homegrown talent, especially at clubs that invest a lot in the nursery.

Sliema Wanderers initially suggested that the number of playing foreigners should go up to six or seven plus three substitutes instead of one but the general feeling was that clubs should be allowed to play at least eight non-Maltese players from next season.

The proposal still requires the approval of the Malta FA council to go through.

Discussions on the Malta FA players’ status reforms will continue at the next PLSC meeting, scheduled for next week.

Borg replaces Scicluna

Floriana captain Clyde Borg has been drafted into the provisional Malta squad after Birkirkara midfielder Ryan Scicluna was ruled out with injury.

AEK Kalloni goalkeeper Andrew Hogg suffered a blow to the head during training on Tuesday evening but the Malta no.1 has been given the all-clear by doctors.

Malta coach Pietro Ghedin is expected to name his 23-man squad today as the contingent leaves for Sofia early tomorrow morning ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Bulgaria.

Six handed one-match ban

Six Premier League players were given a one-match ban yesterday.

Balzan had two players on the list as defender Clive Brincat was sanctioned following his red card in the 3-0 defeat to Hibs while midfielder Luke Sciberras collected his fourth yellow card.

Birkirkara midfielder Ryan Scicluna and Paltemio Barbetti, of Sliema, were also banned for four cautions.

Sliema’s Andrea Scozzese, dismissed for two yellow cards in his team’s 1-0 defeat to Naxxar , and Żebbuġ’s Thomas Paris, shown a straight red in the 2-0 loss to Valletta, were also handed a one-match ban.

Floriana FC president Riccardo Gaucci and team manager Anthony Grech Sant were hit with a two-match touchline ban after both were sent off from the dug-out in their team’s 2-1 win over Birkirkara.

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