Dr Matthew Paris will be replacing Dr Chris Bonett as the third MFA vice-president. The others are Ludovico Micallef and Alex Manfre.

He will start his term of office on 1 January 2017.

He won yesterday’s election polling the biggest number of votes – 37. Secondwas Dr Cory Greenland with 33, third Dr Peter Fenech with 29, four Dr D. Borg Myatt with 17. Dr A. Camilleri and Victor Cassar obtained even each. Silvio Galea got six votes.

In all, 136 delegates were eligible to vote and all votes were valid.

Addressing reporters soon after his election, Dr Paris thanked everyone involved, including the six other contestants and also those who voted him into office. “It was something really positive that there was such a good number contesting the election. That shows that there are several people interested in working in favour of the game of football. We have to show them respect,” he said.

He said that he was ready to work with MFA president Norman Darmanin Demajo and the other vice presidents.

He also congratulated Dr Chris Bonett who resigned last month after accepting an offer from UEFA to become its Integrity Officer. The latter will take over his new job as from 1 January 2017.

The Integrity Officer of UEFA assists the Head of Disciplinary and Integrity in all integrity-related legal matters and takes the lead in dealing with the risk of match-fixing.

Paris concluded by saying that he intends to be successful as Dr Bonett was in the past few years.

 Photo Domenic Aquilina