Watch: Birkirkara FC President Insists Maltese Football’s Root Problems Extend Beyond New League
Birkirkara FC President Michael Valenzia has insisted the problems of Maltese football go beyond a proposed shake-up to the Premier League format.
“The pros and cons of the league format are something to discuss with a friend over a beer but this isn’t the real problem with Maltese football,” Valencia said on ONE TV’s sports show L-Argument.
“The format is a consequence of something that needs to change.”
The proposed revamp, which has been approved by the majority of Premier League clubs, will scrap the original league in favour of a split season, with a potential playoff to decide the league winner.
View this post on Instagram
It has proven controversial among several fans, while Ħamrun Spartans President Joseph Portelli has warned it will ruin the first half of the season.
However, Valenzia counter-argued that Premier League clubs had to also accept the MFA’s demand for four clubs to get relegated to shrink the league from 14 to 12 teams.
He said clubs had also wanted to increase the maximum number of foreign players on the pitch to nine, but had to accept eight, along with a pot of money, jointly funded by clubs and the MFA, to reward clubs who utilise Maltese players.
Valenzia also warned that Maltese clubs are suffering from a lack of human resources, with new rules requiring them to employ three-full timers to handle the administrative work that new licensing rules entail.
“These requirements weren’t so rigorous two years ago and clubs need to be structured in a manner that will help us overcome these challenges,” he said.
Do you agree with the proposed new league format?
READ NEXT: Watch: Michelle Muscat Endorses PL’s Daniel Attard For ‘Courage To Defend Our Name’
