The Malta Football Association is among the associations that have nominated Jordan FA head Prince Ali for the FIFA presidential election, MFA president Norman Darmanin Demajo announced today.
Mr Darmanin Demajo explained that he had no problems declaring the MFA's position, adding that he could not turn his back on Prince Ali after having supported him all the way at the last FIFA election after being encouraged to do so by UEFA.
UEFA president Michel Platini had entered the race to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA head at the February 26 vote, but the two have since suspended for 90 days by the FIFA Ethics Committee.
Also at today’s MFA Council Meeting, Mr Darmanin Demajo said that the association’s Executive Committee members agree that national coach Pietro Ghedin has done a good job since taking charge of the national team back in 2012.
“The general feeling of the Executive Committee members was that national team has done reasonably well under Ghedin and we should therefore considering offering him a new contract,” Darmanin Demajo said.
As Ghedin’s current deal runs out in December, Darmanin Demajo said that he will be seeking the advice of technical director Robert Gatt on the way forward before opening talks with Ghedin.
Malta concluded their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign earlier this month with a 1-0 home defeat to Croatia. On November 11, Malta will play a friendly match against Jordan in Istanbul.
The upcoming game was described as “an occasion to mark the friendship between the MFA and Jordanian FA” as well as a show of solidarity with Prince Ali for the courage he showed in standing against Sepp Blatter at the last FIFA election.