The Malta Basketball Association (MBA) will amend its rules to enable more foreign players to take part in its tournaments following European Commission pressure.
Education Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has written to the Maltese authorities warning that the MBA’s rules may be illegal, after the issue was raised by Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil.
The action was prompted by a Greek player who was prevented from exercising his EU free movement rights in Malta due to the association’s policy that only one ‘non-Maltese’ player can be registered with a club.
“Restricting the access to basketball clubs of foreign nationals who are EU citizens may run contrary to the principles of non-discrimination on grounds of nationality and of freedom of movement, as laid down in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,” the Commissioner said.
Ms Vassiliou said the issue was being examined in more detail and the Commission had contacted the Maltese authorities to obtain clarification. The Commission also warned that an infringement could be instituted against Malta if the MBA is found to be breaching EU rules.
When contacted, MBA secretary Jean Paul Sammut confirmed the rules were being amended and would be operational from the next season.
However, he denied that the current MBA statute precluded players and clubs from seeking remedy on this issue through the national courts.
Meanwhile, Mr Sammut denied that the MBA president, Magistrate Antonio Mizzi, had a conflict of interest in his roles as association president and a member of thejudiciary.
Together with Judge Lino Farrugia Sacco, who occupies the post of president of the Olympic Committee, Magistrate Mizzi has been found by the Commission for the Administration of Justice to be in breach of the code of ethics for members of the judiciary.
The Commission had directed both members to step down from their role in sport, as their positions as members of the judiciary could be compromised or prejudiced, especially because of their potential involvement in public controversy with other sports or government entities.
Judge Farrugia Sacco and Magistrate Mizzi have so far both ignored the Commission’s request.
Members of the judiciary can only be unseated through a two-thirds majority vote in Parliament.