It is partly due to the MFA expecting people to go to Ta’ Qali and stay in the biting cold perhaps till 10pm at night, in an uncovered Millennium Stand which, in my opinion, is not ideal considering the amount spent on its construction - about Lm4 million Maltese liri. Clubs are losing gate money and have to pay for the floodlights.

What can be done? As most elderly people and youngsters do not drive, they cannot go to the stadium as Public Transport is practically unavailable. Again, playing on weekdays is not conducive to those who work till 7pm. If they go to watch midweek matches, one cannot expect them to go back home at about 11pm and go to work early the next day.

In my opinion, the best solution should be the return to football being played on Saturdays and Sundays in daytime, considering that the MFA has three available stadiums where to hold its matches.

Another factor keeping people away from the terraces is the fact that these have to pay Lm3 for an admission ticket and 40c for parking. One would sincerely like to help the clubs, but the MFA has to admit that watching Maltese football has become too expensive.

Reuben Bonello

Floriana