Dimech's protests saga prompted enforcement of FIFA rules

Dr Joe Mifsud, the MFA president, has turned the heat on clubs by claiming that the removal of the 'five-foreigners-for-Europe concession' had been prompted by the controversy surrounding Luke Dimech's return to Maltese football.

Maltese clubs taking part in UEFA competitions, particularly Sliema W., have lamented that their chances of progression have been undermined by the three-foreigners restriction.

Robert Arrigo, the president of Sliema, has been vociferous in his criticism of the Malta FA, particularly after the executive committee voted to impose a minimum Lm5,000 as guarantee for using the National Stadium for the Champions League.

At last Thursday's MFA council meeting, Dr Mifsud read two letters by Arrigo in which the latter expressed his club's disapproval of the three-foreigners limit and the Lm5,000 fee for the use of the stadium.

Reacting to Arrigo's remarks on the foreigners' rule, Mifsud said: "We had to amend the regulations to eliminate a contradiction. How can the MFA allow a club to sign a one-year contract with a player when we know that they will have to release him after the end of their participation in Europe?," Mifsud said.

According to MFA regulations, Premier League clubs may field up to three foreigners in domestic competitions but in the past seasons, clubs were given the option to use five foreign players for their European commitments.

"The MFA had no option but to enforce the three-foreigners regulation for all competitions after that sequence of protests over Luke Dimech's eligibility to play for another club in January," Mifsud said.

Malta international Dimech joined Birkirkara in the January transfer window after the expiry of his contract with Irish Premier League club Shamrock Rovers. Hibs, Valletta and Pietà Hotspurs lodged protests against the validity of Dimech's registration, claiming that he was ineligible to turn out for another Maltese club in the same season.

"For the last few years, clubs had been given permission by the MFA to sign foreign players on short-term deals in view of their participation in Europe but after all that publicity surrounding Dimech's return, we had to take a stand. FIFA rules make it clear that contracts between clubs and players must be signed for a minimum duration of one year," Mifsud said.

An amendment to the MFA statute regarding protests made by clubs, will be proposed to the association's general meeting. The last paragraph of the amendment says that a protest must be accompanied by a deposit of Lm300.

The three-foreigners quota is likely to end when Malta officially becomes a member of the European Union in May, 2004. Dr Mifsud said that the MFA is assessing how small countries like Luxembourg and Iceland adjusted to the changes brought about by EU regulations.

UEFA subsidy

News that the MFA wants clubs to pay a minimum sum of Lm5,000 to stage Champions League matches at Ta' Qali also stirred a storm in a teacup in the past week.

Maltese champions Sliema were so upset by this condition that they asked UEFA to play the two legs of their Champions League first qualifying round against FC Skonto in Latvia.

Their proposal was shot down by UEFA, forcing Sliema to seek a new venue for their home leg. Their choice fell on the Hibernians Ground where new seats will have to be installed to meet conditions set by UEFA.

"For the past few seasons, the preliminary rounds of the Champions League have been taking place as early as July," Dr Mifsud said. "To ensure that the turf at the National Stadium remains in top condition, we have to use a special seed and water it regularly during the dry months.

"The MFA has an agreement with the clubs by way of which the association is entitled to 20 per cent of the gate income and 20 per cent of the revenue from international advertising for allowing clubs to make use of the National Stadium for European assignments.

"In the last years, the clubs' income from international TV was nil and the attendance figures were dismal. Basically, the MFA has been forking out thousands of liri to subsidise the clubs when these get some Lm70,000 from UEFA to help them keep the ground in a good condition for the Champions League.

"At the end of the day, the MFA has to do its homework. We cannot continue to subsidise clubs when these are receiving financial help from UEFA. And, after all, we are only asking the club to pay a minimum sum of Lm5,000 as guarantee for the use of the stadium.

"UEFA has now also introduced a regulation stating that clubs must have a contract signed with the management of a domestic stadium by December this year if they are to compete in Euro competitions in season 2004-2005," Dr Mifsud added.

On Sliema's proposal to stage both legs in Riga, Mifsud said: "UEFA rules do not allow teams to play their home leg in a different country. Seven years ago, Belgian club Mouscron had asked UEFA to play a home UEFA Cup leg against FC Metz in Lille, France, but their request was not upheld.

"Mouscron took their case to a local court but their claims were rejected as the court's ruling said that the club must adhere to UEFA regulations," Dr Mifsud said.

Sticking with their guns, Sliema have announced that their home leg against FC Skonto on July 16 will be held at the Hibs Ground. "I hope Sliema's bid to play at Corradino is successful," Dr Mifsud said.

"Having another all-seated stadium can only be good for local football," he said. "However, in the event that Sliema have to use the National Stadium, new discussions have to take place," Dr Mifsud warned.

Other news

¤ The national teams' set-up will be discussed by the MFA council after the last EURO 2004 Group One qualifier away to Israel on September 10.

¤ Former Hamrun Spartans and Malta midfielder Michael Degiorgio has joined the MFA's technical staff.

¤ Seven clubs, namely Valletta, Floriana, Hamrun Spartans, Xghajra, Luqa SA, Ghaxaq and Ta' Xbiex, have not applied for a playing licence. The deadline was May 30. The MFA has given these clubs until July 2 to submit their application. Premier League club Pietà Hotspurs were the only club to send its application for a licence before the May 30 deadline.

¤ Massimo Grima's three-month ban, after he tested positive for a prohibited substance, was confirmed. Sliema Wanderers were fined Lm100. MFA president Dr Joe Mifsud said that new doping sanctions have come into force as from June 1, 2003. Guilty parties shall be liable to a minimum suspension of six months. The maximum sanction is a two-year ban but a player can also be suspended for life if he commits a second doping offence.