MFA president Norman Darmanin Demajo has called on clubs to do their utmost to respect UEFA’s financial fair play regulations.
“Some things in world football are coming to an end,” Darmanin Demajo warned in his season-opening address at a Malta FA council meeting on Tuesday.
“We have to change our attitude towards the word ‘success’. Clubs must focus more on balancing their books... this is the most important thing.”
The MFA president told council members to exert pressure on their fellow officials not to spend recklessly as this would jeopardise their club’s financial stability.
“I urge clubs to be genuine and realistic when compiling their financial accounts,” Darmanin Demajo said.
“You have to help us to help you but, first, honour your financial commitments. Don’t overspend for the sake of buying success.”
Darmanin Demajo has also pressed ahead with his pledge to switch council meetings from evenings to afternoons.
While reiterating his stance that the “Malta FA is not a part-time shop”, Darmanin Demajo announced that the Executive Committee had endorsed his proposal to change the time of the council meetings.
“Council meetings should not be held late in the day,” Darmanin Demajo said.
“Starting at 7 p.m. is not an ideal way to approach council meetings. The Executive Committee has agreed that council meetings should start at 1 p.m.
“We only have one council meeting every month and we’re also planning to introduce an allowance to compensate mem-bers for taking time off from work.”
The Malta FA have also stepped up their drive to encourage clubs to fulfil their obligations sending players for basic medical tests at the association’s clinic in Ta’ Qali.
Bjorn Vassallo, the MFA CEO, also announced new, improved schemes for clubs in relation to medical and rehab treatment provided to players by the asso-ciation’s doctors and physios.
MFPA meeting
Carmelo Bartolo, the MFA’s senior vice-president, gave details of a recent meeting with rep-resentatives of the Malta Football Players Association (MFPA) on the latter’s request for recognition by the MFA.
Describing the meeting as “cordial”, Bartolo said that the members of the MFA’s committee told the MFPA officials that clubs “went on the warpath” when it emerged that the players’ body had elected to join a local trade union.
“The clubs see the union as a threat,” Bartolo said, adding that they are now awaiting a reply from the MFPA.
Meanwhile, the Malta FA council members approved a number of important amendments to the regulations for the control of mis-conduct and all kinds of incidents during football matches.
The approval of the amend-ments followed a presentation by Chris Bonnett, the head of the Malta FA’s legal department who has been working on the matter for the last year.
The players’ and club officials’ disciplinary code has been revised to provide for stiffer punishments for miscreants.
Under the revised regulations, in cases of serious nature, the Malta Football Association Dis-ciplinary Commissioner is now entitled to mete out a suspension to a player or official not exceeding one year.
In deciding on the punishment over violent conduct, the Disci-plinary Commissioner must take into consideration the conduct of the player or official in the previous five seasons, although the offender is not deemed to be a relapser.
Although the maximum fines for crowd-related offences (throwing of seats and use of obscene language) have been reduced, the amended regulations mean that clubs are now liable to face disciplinary action for disorderly behaviour by their players, officials and fans within the precincts (area of 200 metres) of the stadium.