Recent judgments as pronounced by the European Court of Justice, and the reply to the parliamentary question given by the EU as reported in various newspapers regarding the present state of our local football, virtually condemns the Malta Football Association and confirms the state of illegality the game is in at present.
No arguments, beating around the bush, arrogance nor shouting can defend a position, rules and regulations that are discriminatory, both locally and within the EU context.
Today, on the premise of safeguarding local youth, the MFA precludes a team from fielding more than three foreigners (supposedly non-Maltese) at any given time on the pitch.
Such is the confused state of the present home-made rules, that it is possible for any local team to get in, say, 15 foreign youths, register them for a three-year period and then they will all be eligible to play in the premier or other leagues, thereby scrapping any thought of protecting or safeguarding Maltese youths. All this is acceptable under UEFA guidelines as youths are considered to be players aged between 14 to 21.
In the summer of 2004, the MFA refused the registration of an EU player of Italian nationality. Those papers could be relevant in a future court case that the MFA is apparently challenging somebody to institute.
And somebody probably will. A local club cannot do so, as the same MFA will throw out any club that dares challenge the infallibility of the association’s wisdom.
However, a subtle political agenda has been underway for some time. Ever since Malta’s accession to the EU, the MFA chief has tried his utmost to ridicule Malta’s membership, ridicule anybody who represents the Nationalist government, and just listening to one of his speeches, one concludes that the blindness in being anti EU is not just about young players. Youths are being used to justify the end.
Why this reticence to implement exactly UEFA rules that are aimed at protecting young players? This policy will lead to all clubs having up to eight home-grown youths in a squad of 25 players in a few years’ time. We all agree about this. But by going by UEFA rules, the MFA has to accept the non-Maltese policy too. That would hurt pride.
I am informed that the MFA has written to the EU to ask why it is taking any notice of little Malta? How dare the EU question Malta’s stand? It is pathetic to see Malta different from the rest of the EU 25.
However, one must mention that the MFA was the only association which refused to take part in the pre-accession talks with the negotiating team (my PQ confirms). Now, I am told that the MFA wants to meet the EU behind the government’s back.
My reading is that the MFA wants Malta to be put in a bad light, so that the Nationalist government is condemned by the EU for discrimination, and gets a reprimand and a possible fine. Will the MFA pay such a fine? Will the council members and officials pay their share if any court condemns such actions?
Discrimination is present even at local level. A Maltese passport, acquired through five years of marriage or returned Maltese immigrants, are not recognised by the MFA as fully-fledged Maltese. He would be Maltese on a part-time basis.
It is pathetic that, in order to seek redress, one has to go to a local court and then to the ECJ, if necessary. There are no life prison sentences here, but the pride of a nation – a nation that the EU considers as part of a family and not as a non-entity.
In fact, I have just returned from Brussels, together with MLP deputy leader Charles Mangion, after attending the first EU 25 national parliament conference on economic policy. Unlike MFA’s wishes, Malta is considered at par with other countries.
We are second to none on our arguments, positions, and common difficulties and goals. We all want to work to achieve more employment and we must inform the people what the EU is doing to safeguard our high standard of living.
We must be innovative, stable and be able to perform in order to compete with the emerging markets of Brazil, India and China – all new giant players, out to entice investment to their shores.
This government is on the right track, and when you listen to other national parliaments saying more or less the same things, then you realise that our new Nationalist government under Dr Lawrence Gonzi is in the right framework. The goals will be reached to the satisfaction of the nation.
Robert Arrigo is a
Nationalist MP