Micallef told Lovin Malta that he has long been involved with the Malta Professional Football Clubs Association (MPFCA) and was secretary of a standing committee that saw it become an association in the first place.

He said he also penned a detailed strategy that would see the Maltese Premier League become autonomous from the Malta Football Association, a project that would see the MPFCA take charge of the Premier League and the MFA maintain responsibility for Malta’s national teams and grassroots football.

Micallef said his plan, which would see the segregation take place within four years, is intended to raise the standards of Maltese football across the board, and will ensure Premier League clubs boost their revenue in terms of TV rights and data rights.

It will also include a marketing exercise on the match-day experience and build-up to Maltese Premier League games.

The MPFCA would appoint a full-time executive CEO, with the position of chairperson alternating among Premier League clubs every two years, or less if that club gets relegated to the Challenge League.

He said that during the MPFCA’s most recent annual general meeting, football clubs were set to discuss who should succeed Robert Micallef as chairperson after his club Santa Lucia FC was relegated, as well as the implementation of the CEO proposal.

Micallef said that during this meeting, Hibernians FC’s Jesmond Abela informed the other clubs that he had spoken to Muscat and was proposing him as chairperson. Lovin Malta has reached out to Abela to ask him whether this is true.

Although Muscat isn’t involved with any Premier League club, he has previously expressed his interest in getting involved in the sports world.

Muscat has not responded to Lovin Malta’s request for comment.

Micallef said that many clubs have approached him to take on the role of MPFCA CEO and that while the position interests him, he is concerned that appointing Muscat as chairperson could impede the ultimate plan of raising the bar of the Maltese football.

“The proposal of appointing Muscat as chairperson is based on his characteristics but I want the role to be utilised to promote Maltese football.”

“My position is crystal clear. I’d want to be part of a proper organisation for the MPFCA to move forward based on criteria agreed upon by clubs but it would be wrong if this is carried out to accommodate a person,” he said.

“All prolific people come with their own baggage and it’s up to them to see how to carry it but let’s not utilise an organisation to carry their baggage for them.”

Micallef said that while he has no problem working with Muscat, “we must make we rope in people who are pulling in the same direction and not pull them out of a particular situation”.

“Our focus should be to pull Maltese football out of the mediocre situation it is in and get it on the right track.”

The former MP said the future and reputation of Maltese football is on the line and that his future with the MPFCA will all depend on how discussions go.

“If we want to go professional that’s one thing but if we want to go with a parochial and partisan mentality that’s something else. If we want to take football to the next level, it cannot be done in a partisan and parochial manner.”

“If we want football to be partisan and parochial and if we just want to stay cheering ‘the king’, then I won’t be there. I want to be there to secure a good revenue for clubs, close good deals and create a proper structure that will see clubs assured of a basic income which will increase if they raise the bar.”

“I have no problem working with anyone and I won elections with Joseph Muscat but in this case, it isn’t about a victory for Jean Claude Micallef or Joseph Muscat but about Maltese football. The reputation of Maltese football is at stake.”

Cover photo: Left: Former PL MP Jean Claude Micallef, Right: Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat

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