Malta FA head Norman Darmanin Demajo is to stand for election to the UEFA Executive Committee.
The members of the MFA Executive Committee unanimously voted to nominate Darmanin Demajo as candidate for UEFA Exco election after a multitude of clubs and member associations, 32 in all, wrote to the Malta FA indicating their support for the candidacy of the association’s president.
The recommendation of the MFA Executive Committee to put forward Darmanin Demajo’s nomination was greeted with a warm applause by the members of the association’s council yesterday.
The confirmation of Darmanin Demajo as the Malta FA’s selected candidate for the UEFA Exco election, to be held at the European governing body’s next Congress in Paris on March 22, effectively signals the end of former MFA president Joe Mifsud’s long tenure within UEFA.
Dr Mifsud has been a member of the UEFA Exco since 1994. Last year, he was named UEFA’s fifth vice-president and had harboured hopes of receiving the MFA’s go-ahead to stand for re-election when his current term expires in March but the members decided otherwise.
“This issue arose over who should represent Malta in the election of the UEFA Exco Committee,” Darmanin Demajo said. “One of our members expressed an opinion that Malta should have someone representing the MFA on the UEFA Exco.
“I had already made it known that I feel awkward to propose Dr Mifsud for the Exco election. Everyone knows that, in the last few years, Dr Mifsud and I have not been the best of friends but I don’t like to talk about individuals who are not here.
“We discussed this matter at the Executive Committee meeting (on Wednesday). I don’t believe that, after all that has happened, Dr Mifsud is the right person to help me and the MFA within the UEFA Exco.
“Several clubs and associations have written to the MFA nominating me to stand for election of the UEFA Exco. I’ve decided to heed their call.
“The Executive Committee voted unanimously to nominate me as candidate for the UEFA Exco.”
Dr Mifsud, who is an honorary MFA president, had been present for the last two MFA council meetings but didn’t turn up yesterday.
Żurrieq were the only club who aligned themselves with Dr Mifsud in the UEFA Exco issue.
Another important item on the agenda yesterday was the reforms of the national leagues. These were approved by the MFA council following a detailed presentation on the proposed changes by Bjorn Vassallo, the Malta FA CEO.
As from next season, the Premier League and Division One will each comprise 12 clubs, an increase of two teams on the current number, while the Division Two and Three leagues will be made up of 14 teams.
The present format of the four championships has been retained but yesterday’s decision means that only one team will be relegated from the Premier League and Division One at the end of this season.
The top three teams in Division One will earn promotion to the top flight and the five best-placed teams in the final Division Two league table will secure a place in Division One for the following season.
Seven teams will be promoted to Division Two at the end of the season, namely the top three in Section A and B and the winner of a play-off between the fourth-placed teams in each section. The club that finishes bottom of the Division Two league will be demoted to Division Three at the end of the current season.
In 2011/12, two teams will be relegated from each of the Premier League and Division One and three from Division Two while the two teams occupying the last two positions in the Division Three championship will have to re-apply.
The MFA also voted to revamp the FA Trophy format. From next season, the FA Trophy will be contested by all the clubs affiliated to the Malta FA while those in the GFA Division One and Two leagues can also take part.
The FA Cup-style format means that the existing KO competitions for Division One clubs and that for Division Two and Three will be abolished. The 12 Premier League clubs will enter the fray in the third round.
Meanwhile, Darmanin Demajo praised Robert Gatt’s attributes, describing him as the ideal person to implement the MFA’s vision to improve the level of Maltese football. Gatt was appointed MFA technical director last week.
“We shouldn’t think that the appointment of a new technical director will change things overnight but we want to give our national teams the best chance to earn the respect of our opponents,” he said.
Darmanin Demajo said Gatt will focus on a number of key areas, namely the preparation of the national teams, the construction of a sports science centre, the revival of the regional scouting scheme and improved coaching education.
On the national team’s training scheme, the MFA president said: “I don’t agree with the current practice of having 25 players in the national pool. It shouldn’t be like this. The national team must be open to all those who are playing well.”
Darmanin Demajo expressed optimism that newly-appointed Malta U-21 coach Ray Farrugia and his assistant Ronald Vella will do well at the helm of the U-21 squad.
Balzan protest
The Malta FA Council accepted Msida St Joseph’s request to refer the case of Balzan Youths’ protest back to the Protests Board.
Last week, the MFA Protests Board overturned Msida’s 3-0 win over Balzan after the latter successfully argued that Alhinho’s registration as an Msida player was invalid on the grounds that Sliema had a transfer ban when they issued the release of the Portuguese player.
Balzan were awarded a 2-0 victory but the MFA council decided to re-open the case after accepting Msida’s claims that there was a breach of MFA rules during the protest’s hearing.