Damage estimated at nearly Lm10,000

The Malta FA's initial estimate of the damage caused to the National Stadium during and after Malta's World Cup 2006 qualifying match against Croatia, is between Lm8,000 to Lm10,000, Joe Mifsud, the MFA president, said during a meeting of the association's council on Thursday evening.

Dr Mifsud said that during the recent FIFA Congress in Marrakesh, the president and secretary of the Croatian FA again admitted that their supporters were responsible for the incidents and promised to compensate the Malta FA.

Deploring the incidents that marred Malta's 1-1 draw with Croatia, Dr Mifsud said a group of Croatian supporters were responsible for what happened when they caused damage at the stadium and several people, including MFA vice-president Ludovico Micallef, council member Charles Scerri and Minister for Competitiveness, Censu Galea. A number of policemen and other people were injured and some had to be hospitalised.

The FIFA Commissioner sent a report to the world body. FIFA wrote to both the Malta and Croatia Football Associations prior to opening an enquiry.

In the letter, it stated that 695 seats were ripped off, of which 675 were from the sector where the Croatians were.

It said that the incidents were perpetrated by the visiting supporters as they threw seats and metal bars over the iron fence towards the VIP area where MFA, Croatian officials and other Maltese were sitting.

Most of the 103 Croatians who were arraigned in court the following day admitted to all the charges brought against them.

A number of police officers had tried to calm down the situation before more officers were called to assist them.

FIFA stated that some seats were also seen being thrown back from the sector where the Maltese were.

MFA's reply

The MFA replied to FIFA, giving its version of what happened, including copies of apologetic letters from the Croatian Federation and Croatian government authorities over the incidents.

The MFA said security measures were taken prior to the match in the light of what the Croatian FA official said at a routine security meeting. He had advised that precautions had to be taken to prevent any possible invasion of the pitch by the Croatians to greet their team.

It was stated that the police did not react to the provocation, beyond trying to calm down the Croatians. People in the VIP area also behaved responsibly.

The MFA and police officials intervened to evacuate innocent Croatian spectators out of the stadium and provide them with a safe journey to the airport. This after the Croatian offenders were segregated in their sector.

Gates leading out of this sector had been closed all the time, before, during and after the match. At no point was there any retaliation by the police and the Maltese supporters.

Finally, the MFA requested FIFA to acquit them of any responsibility for what happened.

Veterans match called off

Meanwhile, it was also announced on Thursday that the Malta vs England Veterans football match has been cancelled. The match, organised by a committee of ex-British servicemen, was due to be played later on this month but has been called off due to the sponsors' failure to honour their agreement.

The Malta FA have also set up a sub-committee, composed of council members, to examine plans for improved football facilities on a national scale.

A total of 35 mini-pitches under the UEFA Scheme will be allocated to club nurseries and local councils. The MFA are hoping to finalise all formalities in a short time.

Dr Mifsud also said that the MFA will be having talks with the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport over the new Sports Law involving the NGO's (Non Government Organisations) and their legal standing.

The main focus will be on the positive effect of this law. The discussions will centre on how these laws could be reconciled for the benefit of football.

The MFA Council have also approved the Malta Amateur team's participation in the next edition of the Regions Cup.