The Malta Football Association held its General Assembly at the Centenary Hall, reviewing key developments and decisions from the 2024–25 season.
General Secretary Dr Maria Azzopardi presented the Administrative Report, which was unanimously approved. The report covered sporting milestones, infrastructure projects, financial performance, and changes to regulations. UEFA’s Thierry Favre and FIFA’s Vasco Stock Da Cunha were present.
Key Points
125th Anniversary: A series of events marked the MFA’s 125th year, including grassroots initiatives, inclusion festivals, educational programmes, and the launch of a commemorative national team shirt. The Jubilee Cup finals are set for 8 December 2025 at the National Stadium.
National Football Centre: Construction of the new centre at Ta’ Qali is nearing completion. It includes a Category 1 stadium suitable for international youth matches.
New Strategy – ‘Forward Together’: A new four-year plan, developed with UEFA Grow, will build on the previous strategy, focusing on sustainability, social impact, and operational improvement. The first strategy (2021–24) met 95% of its goals.
Financial Recovery: The MFA recorded a budget surplus in 2024, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic. Income reached €13 million, while expenditure was reduced to €11.7 million.
Women’s National Team: Malta earned promotion to League B of the UEFA Women’s Nations League after a 1–0 win over Cyprus. The match drew a record crowd of 1,205 spectators.
Coaching Appointments: Emilio De Leo was named Head Coach of the National Teams, with Davide Mazzotta appointed as U21 coach.
Refereeing: A record 18 Maltese referees were included on the FIFA Panel. Work also continued on the pilot phase of the Football Video Support Trials.
Support to Member Associations: The MFA signed four-year MoUs with 13 member associations, mostly in amateur and recreational football, providing €340,000 in annual support for officials, pitch rental, and medical services.
Regulation Changes: Requirement for female Vice President no longer required
Statute (Article 27): The requirement for one MFA Vice President to be female was removed.
Appeals Board (Article 61): A retired referee (inactive for two years) will now be included on the Appeals Board or substitute panel.
Premier League Rules (Article 7): The direct encounter rule will no longer apply in case of a points tie at the end of specific phases. If the tie affects key positions (e.g., Top 6 qualification or relegation), a decider match will be held under Article 35.
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