Watch: Major Maltese Clubs Could Soon Be Privatised And Opened Up To Foreign Investment
Major Maltese Premier League clubs could soon be privatised, paving the way for foreign investors to take control.
In an interview with Lovin Malta, MFA President Bjorn Vassallo confirmed that the Malta Football Association has presented the relevant ministry with a bill to eventually be debated in Parliament.
“This will involve the corporate restructuring of major clubs and a change to their ownership models,” Vassallo said.
“They will no longer be member-owned clubs, where management committees are elected during AGMs. Instead, just as happens overseas, a foreign investor or fund could purchase the club and invest in it, allowing us to grow from that aspect.”
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“Football also has a commercial aspect nowadays and the MFA considered this, with the intention of improving the potential of the sport locally. If our country was capable of progressing in several aspects, why can’t it do so in sport and football too?”
Vassallo pointed out that foreign ownership of clubs has become a common feature of several leagues.
“How many Serie A clubs have an Italian president? Juventus and Napoli do, but Inter, Milan and Roma are all owned by foreigners,” he pointed out. “The same will happen in Malta.”
Vassallo said he has no doubt that foreign investors will be interested in purchasing Maltese clubs, particularly since they get to qualify for European competitions.
Indeed, he said that Ħamrun Spartans managed to qualify for the league stage of the UEFA Conference League thanks to investment in their players, coaches and staff.
“Four Premier League clubs out of 12 qualify for European competitions every year, and besides the income these competitions generate, there is a huge audience.”
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