Another dispute, this time between the MFA and one of its topmost member clubs, Valletta FC has popped up the past few days as a result of the professional training scheme adopted by the association with regard to its national team squad.
We heard MFA president Dr Joe Mifsud last Monday threatening Valletta FC, its players and officials with suspension from the association and possible non-participation in European club competitions unless they abide by the rules of the assocation on this issue.
The Wednesday before, Valletta had ordered their players not to attend a national team training session clearly challenging the MFA on whether they were right to retain their players to use them in connection with their own professional scheme. Valletta are claiming that what they are doing is in accordance with UEFA rules. The citizens want to have their own professional scheme as club president Victor Sciriha has embarked on a programme to lift the club’s image even in European football, if that becomes possible.
Dr Mifsud clearly stated that the situation in Malta is not the same as with other European countries where all or most of the clubs are run on a professional basis. And the association’s professional scheme was only adopted to see that the national team was prepared in the best way possible to get the best possible results.
It is on this basis that Dr Mifsud issued the warning to Valletta FC. He made it clear that he would never allow a club to act in the same manner again without taking the necessary action and appealed to the club to honour its commitments vis-a-vis the national team professional training scheme as he would not like taking drastic action.
Dr Mifsud also confirmed that the MFA had agreed to a proposal by one of the clubs to curb the training sessions at Ta’ Qali, especially some of those in the evening to allow the players to train with their colleagues at the clubs during the week. The scheme provides for national team players to attend two morning sessions and one full day at Ta’ Qali (Tuesday) during the week, but in the fortnight preceding international matches, the clubs will have to provide the players for full time training at Ta’ Qali.
But he revealed that Valletta were the only club to have opposed such a proposal.
On the same day, I also contacted Valletta president Victor Sciriha asking him for his reaction to Dr Mifsud’s comments. And he was prompt to reply that Valletta were ready to go ahead with their plans, even if they were suspended. He went on to say then that it would be interesting to see how the local Premier League fares without Valletta’s participation – the citizens are by far the biggest crowd pullers on the island and such a suspension will certainly leave its mark on the local Premier League – and the national team as well. Sciriha also said that unless an agreement was reached, he would order his players not to train with the national team squad after next Wednesday’s Malta-Bulgaria friendly.
This was a challenge which has not gone down well in local football circles. Not only the association is worried but even the other clubs are not happy at all to have Valletta suspended. They are certainly aware that it is only when they play against Valletta these days that they get some revenue from the gates!
In Malta, the clubs still work on a semi-professional basis although, in my opinion, it is closer to amateurism. What Valletta are proposing – to turn the club into a professional entity – is something which must be commended. It is definitely a good initiative for local football. But it also carries a number of risks, foremost amongst which, is the gap it will create between the club and the rest, unless all the others follow suit, something which I believe is far fetched at present.
Valletta showed common sense in midweek when after announcing a press conference, scheduled for yesterday, they decided to call it off. The move came after an undisclosed mediator in the dispute managed to convince both parties – the MFA and the club – to meet sometime tomorrow to discuss the issue afresh.
It is evident that both sides will put forward their arguments, but this has to be done in a civilised manner, if an agreement is to be reached.
Both the MFA and the citizens stand to lose if they do not change their stance.
One main bone of contention will be the number of times the club will request its players to train with their coach, instead of at Ta’ Qali with John Buttigieg.
The citizens are adamant that they have absolute authority over their players as it is the club who pays the wages. On the other hand, the MFA says it is obliged to give the best treatment to its national team and it believed the professional scheme in use at present was the best solution, despite the mostly disappointing results Malta has achieved in the international field in past years.
I sincerely hope that common sense prevails during tomorrow’s meeting. May both sides consider the interests of Maltese football first and foremost.
Henry Brincat
Sports Editor
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