The Malta FA yesterday renewed its appeal for clubs to ensure that all their senior players take the medical test which has become obligatory under the association’s rules.
In order to make these tests more accessible and affordable, the Malta FA had introduced a scheme whereby players can have a medical check-up at the association’s clinic for a nominal fee.
Despite repeated calls for clubs to treat this matter seriously, the response had left much to be desired, Carmelo Bartolo, the MFA vice-president, said yesterday.
Speaking at a council meeting in Ta’ Qali, Bartolo said that several teams risked having virtually all players in their senior squad suspended one match simultaneously had the MFA enforced the stipulated sanctions for those in breach of medical regulations.
“If this had to occur, everyone would have laughed at the state of some of our clubs,” Bartolo said.
While reiterating that the regulations are primarily aimed at safeguarding the players’ lives, moreso in light of tragic deaths of some footballers who collapse on the field of play, Bartolo said that the MFA had decided to take the temporary measure of softening the sanctions.
Under the revised regulation, which is expected to come into effect in the coming weeks, two over-18 players from every senior team (men and women in all divisions) that played an official match in the preceding eight days, will be drawn by lot, to take place on Tuesday mornings at the Malta FA offices.
The players, according to their position on the teamsheet (example: player listed fourth and ninth on teamsheet of club A in match against club B), will be subjected to a verification exercise.
Those found without a medical clearance form will be suspended for the next match and, in addition, an indefinite ban will be imposed on them until their medical position is regularised.
According to Bartolo, this measure should stimulate the players to have regular medical check-ups while, for the time being, sparing the erring clubs the embarrassment of having some of their first-team players suspended.
Spartans warned
Ħamrun Spartans were yesterday warned by the Malta FA that they will be deducted two points if the club fail to settle outstanding payments to former coach Jesmond Zammit and his assistant Vincent Carbonaro by Saturday (December 15).
The Spartans had also been handed a transfer prohibition over unpaid wages to their former coaches.
Meanwhile, the Coaches’ Licensing Committee accepted a recommendation from the Malta FA Executive Committee to grant Qormi FC a concession and appoint Jesmond Zerafa as their head coach.
Zerafa, who steered Valletta to back-to-back titles in the past two seasons, is currently doing the MFA-UEFA ‘A’ coaching course, a requisite for coaches to guide a Premier League team.
Council members were also informed yesterday that as a consequence of a garnishee order which GA Limited, owned by former Floriana FC president Johann Said, had issued against the Premier League club, the UEFA solidarity payment the Greens ought to have received for their participation in the Europa League had to be deposited in court.