MPL Chairman Joseph Muscat: ‘As A Supporter, It Is A Turn Off Watching Local Football Games In Empty Grounds’
Former Prime Minister and newly-appointed Malta Premier League Chairman Joseph Muscat is wondering whether it’s time local matches are played in smaller grounds, to avoid the glaringly empty trail of seats currently plaguing most local matches.
Talking about the “ups and downs” local football faces, Muscat honed in on one particular aspect that irked him in a new interview with SportsDesk.
“One negative element I can mention is that, as a supporter, Maltese football isn’t attractive enough – not quality wise, because recent results show there’s quality. But one annoying thing for me is watching a game in an empty ground,” he said.
“We need to discuss whether these matches should be held in smaller grounds, and Ta’ Qali kept for larger games.”
Muscat’s taking on of the local football scene had turned heads following around two years of political near-silence for the former Prime Minister who was forced to resign after years of allegations eventually getting to a head and leading to mass protests across Valletta in late 2019.
Now, he’s keen to make his mark on the sports scene. In the interview, Muscat makes it clear that he’s ready to revamp local football, starting from the relationships between the teams.
“To be given the opportunity to revamp the existent structure to help clubs work closer together was an exciting challenge for me,” he said.
“Personally, I believe that the majority of the Premier League clubs have a very good structure individually but are lacking the ability to work together.”
“It’s in the nature of sport and of the Maltese society that you look at everyone as your rival and it’s not easy to discuss issues with other club representatives with calm and level headedness,” he continued. “My role is to try and inject this sense of unity between clubs to safeguard their interests and together embark on an ambitious project to organise the Maltese Premier League on a new format.”
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