The MFA Council approved the rules governing a new competition by the name of National League 100 Anniversary Cup™. If the competition is sponsored by an individual or a company the sponsor’s name will be added to the official name at the discretion of the Council.
This new competition, open to all member clubs, will be held during season 2009-2010 and will be part of the celebrations to mark 100 years of the MFA National League. The Council was informed that the Centenary Stadium was approved by UEFA to host matches in UEFA Competitions for Clubs.
At its last meeting last Thursday, the MFA Council dealt at length with draft new regulations on bribery and betting in relation to football matches as proposed by the Executive Committee which were presented for discussion and approval.
Views were expressed by several Council members on different sections in the draft, particularly on the implications that would involve club officials regarding personal liabilities for any civil damage caused to any member club or the association.
These new regulations state that some of those involved in the management of domestic football, such as MFA Officials, Council, MFA Board and Committee members, referees, coaches, players’ agents and national team players, will be liable to pay the Association 100, 000 Euro as pre-liquidated civil damages if they are found guilty of having been involved in attempted or completed corrupt acts or practices.
As the Council members requested more time to better analyse the regulations it was decided to postpone the discussion for the next Council meeting.
Following the decision of the Appeals Board which confirmed the ruling of the Licencing Board not to grant Marsaxlokk a UEFA licence for season 2009/2010 and a letter from the club to the MFA stating that they had no control over circumstances leading to their failure to abide by the deadline regarding fiscal obligations, a motion was approved annulling the Board of Appeal’s decision and referring back the case to the Appeal’s Board on the grounds that the Club could not effect payment to the Inland Revenue Department since until the deadline (31.03.09) there was a dispute with the Inland Revenue and so they could not conform to the financial criteria laid down in the licencing regulations. In actual fact the payment for the amount due was made during the following week after the dispute was settled.
The Council approved the composition of the UEFA Clubs Competitions Committee 2009-2010. Besides the Senior Vice-President who was approved Chairman of the Committee, the other members will be the Council Member and the Secretary of those Clubs qualifying for the 2009/2010 UEFA Competitions for Clubs.
The Council approved that applications will be accepted by the MFA from constituted clubs to be admitted to participate in the BOV Third Division League next season. Information regarding this subject will be circulated to the media.
The President informed the members of the finals of the Futsal Festival for State Schools which were held recently and which the MFA organised in conjunction with the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth and Sport through the Sports Unit of il-Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport (KMS).
He said that this event was a success and it was planned to improve on this next year. The MFA President also mentioned the very useful Futsal Coaching Course conducted recently by Martin Martic of Croatia and a seminar for Futsal Referees to be held towards the end of May. Both courses are organised under the auspices of and in conjunction with FIFA.