‘Asking For A Fair Chance For Players On Both Sides’ – Swieqi United FC Team Manager Explains Why The Team May Refuse Finals Participation
Swieqi United FC has issued a statement to the Malta Football Association declaring that they are considering not participating in any upcoming Women’s U17 and U21 Trophy finals games.
They are considering this drastic action as a result of a schedule which will force several players from Swieqi United to play in back-to-back knockout fixtures with almost no rest – which increases the chance of injury exponentially.
The team said that they had addressed the point with the MFA before finalists were known – in an attempt to safeguard the health of their players, and ensure a level playing field for all teams – but no changes were made.
Arianne Attard, who has been Team Manager to Women’s teams at Swieqi FC United for the past five years, spoke to Lovin Malta about this situation.
“This has been a very difficult decision for the club to take,” said Attard. “This is because the whole team, particularly the players and their coaches, have worked extremely hard all season to get to where they are now.”
“They are obviously eager and keen to show their skills and compete for the trophy.”
Despite this eagerness, Attard explained why playing under these conditions would not allow both teams to meet on equal terms.
“It is only Swieqi who is in both U17 & U21 Finals – therefore only our players will not have enough rest between games.”
She went on, “the feelings are of disappointment, frustration, and anger that we are discussing an issue which could be easily rectified – if only we allow a few days of rest between one game and another. This would give all girls in both teams a fair chance at playing the game, and then, may the best team win!”
In a statement issued by the Malta Football Players Association, the organisation expressed their support for Swieqi United FC and explained further that the practice of playing back-to-back games is a norm which violates a reccomended “minimum 72-hour break between matches”.
This recommendation is based on ensuring that players can recover enough to perform at a high level – and also aims to minimise the risk of injury.
Given that several of Swieqi United’s players will compete in both the U21 and U17 fixtures, the MFPA has called for a discussion to take place ahead of next season – to prevent this issue from reoccurring – as well calling for a solution to be found in time for the first game, currently scheduled to take place tomorrow.
“For several seasons now, our female U17 and U21 squads have played games with less than 24-hours of rest. Swieqi United FC, together with other clubs, has consistently raised concerns about this,” Team Manager Arianne Attard told Lovin Malta.
“Last year, there was a greater push from our club to change the league days. The change did not occur. This year again discussions were held, and all clubs of the women’s teams agreed on principle that they would not like to have U17 and U21 squads playing back-to-back.”
“We also received backing from the MFA Women’s Department that next season, this will be changed. This was before fixtures of the Knockout final were issued.”
Swieqi United FC is extremely concerned about the risk of injury being posed to their players if they are to play in games with almost no time to rest and recover.
Attard felt impassioned on this point, and told Lovin Malta that in the past, “fixtures have been moved,” citing the example of “the Senior Women’s fixtures moving their final game from mid-week to the weekend – so that Birkirkara could celebrate the league title”.
“The club is not asking for much. We are merely asking for a fair chance at the knockout final for players on both sides.” said Attard.
Attard explained that drawing comparisons between the MFA’s treatment of men’s and women’s teams was difficult “because there are far fewer female players – and female teams in general”.
Though she explained that it is customary for both male and female teams to recruit talented U17 players to their U21 squads, because there are fewer female players overall, the impact of scheduling back-to-back games has a greater and more detrimental impact on female teams than it does their male counterparts.
“The lack of cooperation on the matter only points towards irresponsibility and unprofessionalism that the MFA appears to be taking towards certain clubs, and towards the female football leagues” said Attard, in closing.
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