Premier League chiefs to issue anti-corruption declaration

Presidents of the 10 Premier League clubs have agreed to make a joint declaration condemning corruption in football as part of a unified effort to boost the flailing image of Maltese football.

Dr Joe Mifsud, president of the Malta FA, announced that a series of measures intended to attract more people to watch Maltese football will be implemented immediately.

"The presidents of the clubs in the Premier League have resolved to issue a joint declaration condemning any form of corruption in sport," Mifsud told a news conference yesterday.

"Furthermore, they will also pledge to be more vigilant against this problem and to report to the MFA and the police, any information or claims related to bribery in football," Mifsud added.

The results of the survey on our football conducted by MISCO, on behalf of the MFA, are being analysed by the association which has set up a commission to deal exclusively with this matter.

"Within a few weeks of its appointment, the commission compiled and presented a report on the results emerging from the survey," Mifsud said.

"This report triggered a debate about the results of the survey and some people were rather sceptical about certain conclusions.

"However, the principal objective of the survey was for the MFA to know whether its identification of the problems plaguing our game was in consonance with the concerns of the public," Mifsud added.

The trends emerging from the survey have been discussed with the presidents of the Premier League clubs and after a number of meetings, new initiatives were approved and will come into being with immediate effect.

"Football is very popular among children but that does not necessarily mean that all those who play the game are interested in our competitions. We want to lure more children to the domestic game.

"In view of this, from the start of the second phase of the league on February 21, adults accompanying children to our stadia will benefit from reduced admission prices. A male adult who brings a young spectator to the Millennium Stand will pay Lm1.50 instead of Lm2 and women will be charged Lm1," Mifsud said.

The MFA's drive to boost attendances will be backed by the introduction of season tickets from next season. Two types are set to be offered - one for all the domestic league and FA Trophy matches and the other catering for the matches of individual clubs.

Eight teams in top flight?

Mifsud is also confident of persuading clubs to trim the number of teams in the Premier League from 10 to eight.

He said that the prevailing perception that Maltese football is low-standard and lacks competitiveness can only be countered if the number of Premier League teams is reduced to eight.

"From season 2005-2006, we have to find a system whereby the Premier League is contested by eight teams," Mifsud said.