VisitMalta has become the main shirt sponsor of Ars et Labor Ferrara Calcio, formerly known as SPAL, it was revealed during the club's kit unveiling on Thursday, 20 August. The football club was acquired by Gozitan construction entrepreneur Joseph Portelli just a month and a half ago.
On Thursday evening, the Biancazzurri unveiled their football kit for the upcoming 2026/27 season. Portelli was present for the kit unveiling, as the latest edition of the white and blue stripes were presented to local fans.
VisitMalta - the Malta Tourism Authority's brand - appears front and centre on the team's latest home kit, which displays its classic SPAL badge, a mix of white and light blue stripes, and gold outlining across it. A secondary sponsor, Vetroresina, is on display right below the VisitMalta logo on the front of the kit.
Joseph Portelli acquired the former Serie A side in July 2026, through his company JP Football Holdings Ltd, and took over the Italian Eccellenza side with immediate effect. In doing so, Portelli retained his position as President of Ħamrun Spartans, who have enjoyed multiple Maltese Premier League titles during Portelli's tenure over the club.
This newsroom has reached out to the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) to ask how much this shirt sponsorship is worth, for how long this sponsorship deal is set to last as per this contract, and what motivated it to become the Italian side's main shirt sponsor.
This is not the first time that VisitMalta has signed a sponsorship deal in the football world. It is currently in the middle of a partnership deal with the Malta Football Association to provide financial support to Maltese football and futsal teams competing at European level; each one of these clubs will be receiving a €15,000 sum through this deal.
VisitMalta has also partnered with top clubs in the past as a way of looking to promote Malta through football matches - a strategy that other similar national entities have also undertaken, e.g., VisitUganda has become a prominent sponsor to several well-known football clubs as of late. VisitMalta remains a multi-year partner to Manchester United FC, has collaborated with London giants Tottenham Hotspur FC, and just last year it helped host the VisitMalta Cup, a pre-season tournament that featured the likes of Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen.
