Hibernians FC president Tony Bezzina has passed away at the age of 72. 

Bezzina is the longest serving president in Maltese football, having served for 43 years at the helm of Hibernians and in 2019, the State awarded him 'Ġieħ ir-Repubblika' for his contribution to local football. 

In a statement, Hibernians FC expressed its deep regret at Bezzina's passing. 

"The people of Paola, together with Maltese football have lost a great man. A man of kindness and generosity, a man whose life was defined by his devotion to his family and Hibernians FC.

He became the club president on 6 June 1978 having first been elected into the committee in 1973. Under his leadership, Hibernians became one of the forces in Maltese football, winning 21 honours since he became President in 1978. 

The club won the Maltese Premier League nine times during his tenure, with the most recent league win coming in the 2016/17 season, and won the FA Trophy another seven times as well. 

The Paolites also won the Maltese Super Cup on three occasions and the now defunct Testaferrata Cup twice while Bezzina was president. 

 

In a statement, the Malta Football Association said that it was deeply saddened by the news of Bezzina's passing, and that he had made an enormous contribution to the world of Maltese football over the last four decades.