One Productions Ltd has claimed that it has been treated unfairly by the MFA in the issue involving the filming of local football matches.

The contract between the association and the local TV stations expired on 31 May 2010. Last week, the MFA made it known that the new contract for the delayed transmission of local football league matches has been awarded to Net TV, as was the case with Smash TV during the term of the last contract. The latter station did not show any interest and did not make a bid, according to reliable sources close to the MFA.

In a letter on Friday night, the MFA wanted to clear certain issues which came out during the week after One Productions Ltd (OPL) accused the association of treating it unfairly.

The MFA said that it had all the documentation relating to the correspondence which went on between the association and OPL.

Among other things it said that the selection process was very transparent and was discussed in the Bureau, the Executive Committee and reported to the Council where it was also approved. The MFA said all this was done according to the rules and procedures with which the association is administered.

OPL said in a reply yesterday the MFA wanted confrontation.

It said the previous contract cost the company €10,000 and made it clear initially in its proposal for a new contract that it wished this amount to be revoked by the association.

The MFA replied this was unacceptable, although OPL claimed that the association’s treasurer, Antoine Portelli had told OPL chairman Jason Micallef that the MFA was only interested in the company’s transmission of more Maltese football league matches rather than in such a payment. OPL said it thought that the MFA was ready to renounce its rights to the payment of €10,000.

OPL then had received a proposal from the MFA treasurer to make a fairer offer and the company told the MFA it was ready to pay €5,000 for the transmission of the matches. But it claimed it had never received a reply to this last offer. It also accused the MFA that without any call for offers, the association had decided to give the rights to Net TV.

While also accusing the MFA with ulterior motives, OPL said it was still open to discussions with the association. Until such ‘discrimination’ continues, OPL said filming and reports of football matches and activities organised by the MFA was being stopped.