The Malta Football Association has entered into a parternship with PlayGreen, a project endorsed by UEFA and funded under the European Union's Erasmus+ Sport programme.

Addressing a news conference yesterday, Peter Busuttil, the project manager, hailing from the Malta FA's Social Responsibility Department, said the project seeks to raise awareness and build capacities about environmental sustainability in grassroots sports as well as participants, volunteers and all interested organisations.

The project, which is co-funded by the European Union, is in favour of those who follow sport, in this case football.

The aim of the project is to make people frequenting venues where football is played, to be more aware of the environmental benefits.

He said: "Among the targets earmarked, we intend to rehabilitate certain areas around the island which so far have been neglected. We have already started with the first event and this was the cleaning of the Hal Far football pitch from where two skips of rubbish were collected. We now intend to make use of this pitch for use by all those interested in participating in sports events."

He added that by the end of next year, they hope to issue a report where the benefits from such a programme will be listed, amongst them a better transportation system taking football fans to the various venues, the use of plastics and the type of food eaten at football stadia.

The conference was also addressed by another official, Kurt Formosa, who said that PlayGreen will develop a method to create sustainable sport events by training a team of young volunteers (Green Team). The Green Team volunteers will analyse the potential impact of a specific sports event and help organisations achieve sustainability goals.

He said those interested in helping as volunteers in this project can contact the association offices at Ta' Qali or send an e-mail to [email protected]

"I appeal to all those interested to act as volunteers to come and join us. We have already over 20 persons. We will certainly need them for the second local activity to be held at Ghajn Tuffieha," he said.