'Sports Law will leave MOC with less autonomy' - Psaila

Speculation was rife when former Malta Olympic Committee (MOC) Director of Sport Pippo Psaila decided to call it a day earlier this month, just a few days after the end of the Games of the Small States of Europe which saw Malta, the host country, with its best medal tally ever.

There were some who cited rifts in our Olympic Movement. Conflicts and different opinions were behind the shock decision, some contended.

Others said Psaila, who is 46, could be after some other post... possibly at the Malta Football Association. Was he seeking to be re-appointed national team coach with Sigfried Held's time apparently drawing to a close?

Since announcing his decision on June 9, Psaila said nothing about his resignation. Not even the popular TVM talk show Xarabank could get something out of him on this subject.

There were many searching for more light on the issue. But, still, the man who led Malta to a best-ever GSSE result three weeks ago would say nothing... until Thursday afternoon, that is, when he decided to give this interview.

I have known Psaila for ten years now. He's a straightforward person, certainly not one who minces his words. With him it would not be difficult to get to the point, I thought. And so it was.

I started with a simple question about his life now that he is not involved in any sport.

"Difficult and different," he was quick to respond. "But, I guess you're more interested to know why I'm retiring from the MOC, isn't it?"

I nodded, and soon he got the ball rolling.

"In the current circumstances it will be hard for someone with a character like mine to reverse a decision," he said. "As things evolved after the introduction of the new Sports Law, it is not congenial any more for me to stay in the MOC environment.

"I won't close all doors completely, though, ever. However, as things stand it is far off from how I see myself ideally involved in sport."

The Sports Law, strongly promoted by Minister for Youth and the Arts Jesmond Mugliett, was enacted last November and came into effect on January 27. However, the matter had been brewing up for quite some time.

Psaila had made his reservations, which he described as serious, well before that, in fact, as early as October 2001, when the White Paper was first made public.

"I had my own doubts about the way the Sports Law was being structured," he said. "My first reactions were negative and I thought of quitting the MOC more than once.

GSSE commitment

"But, at the time, I was also committed to reach an objective. We were responsible to host the next GSSE. Most of the organisation was in my hands. I had various other responsibilities and, most of all, I was not ready to turn my back on the MOC with the job not even half-done.

"However, I started feeling less comfortable while performing my duties. I informed the rest of the management team in writing on various occasions. There were certain matters which needed to be addressed in the proposed law. I had warned that if there were no changes I would leave after the Games. This was winter 2001. Three weeks ago, I was relieved to make my decision public."

But what aspects of the law was Psaila against?

"The Sports Law did not define precisely the roles of the MOC and the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport," Psaila said. "There are certain parts which are open to interpretation. But, it was clear to me that the ones with the strongest say were the officials of the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport, most of whom are nominated by the government.

"They will be the ones to decide when facing different interpretations and when matters of a certain importance have to be decided. The law, directly or indirectly, says that the minister's consultative body takes precedence here, automatically damaging the MOC's autonomy."

This was not the only part in the law which irked Psaila, however.

"The wording in Clause 4 also needed adjustment, in my opinion," Psaila added.

"Our statute, which is deposited at the International Olympic Committee and approved by the local authorities, stipulates that the MOC is the only entity responsible for elite sport. The MOC is the sole and supreme power as regards the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, etc.

"This is all repeated in Clause 4. However, this same section in the law continues with an addition saying that the MOC status will be acknowledged from time to time by the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport.

"This is unacceptable, a contradiction in itself. Clause 4 practically renders the MOC dependent on the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport. It goes against the Olympic Charter. National Olympic Committees should enjoy full autonomy without attachments to any other organisation, including political. This is no longer the case here. The council is totally political, I say, the majority of its members are directly appointed by the minister.

"It is clear, that the Sports Law infringes the MOC's autonomy and is in direct conflict with the MOC statute and the Olympic Charter."

There are other sections in the Sports Law which, according to Psaila, could stop the MOC from functioning as a free body.

"The law says that the country's National Olympic Committee has to be registered with the council," he said.

"But, I ask, if the MOC is recognised as the sole and supreme power of elite sport, as stated in parts of the law, why should it enlist with another body?

"And what about the established direct relationship with the minister as regards business plans and costings? Negotiations now have to be made with the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport only.

"This means the MOC is no longer free to decide on its own, it is no longer autonomous. It has to follow rules of a bigger entity."

MOC position

There were better ways how the final text should have been presented, Psaila said. The law was positive in certain aspects but should have been more clear when defining roles. It has its own strengths but does not respect the position of the MOC.

Despite some serious repercussions, he added, the law was approved by both sides of the House.

The Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport and MOC could have worked freely together, acknowledging the respective functions and parameters without creating any frictions. But now, Psaila reckons, the Sports Law is a regressive step. There is too much concentration of power in that law.

"Instead of making our sport more autonomous, a cosmetic exercise was done by creating a new entity - the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport. However, that body was given its power by the government," he said.

"In my opinion, there is still too much power in the minister's hands. Sport is not a political tool.

"I've been in sports administration for 26 years and always carried out my duties with pride and complete professionalism. I was always accountable but never subservient in any way to the political machinery. There should be a clear distinction between politics and sports. The spirit of the Sports Law goes against all this.

"In the end, I had to leave. I never had any regrets about joining the MOC and this was a sad way to go. But, I was convinced the new environment was not going to suit my sporting ideals any more."

Psaila would not comment on whether he had the necessary backing from the MOC or the minister's response when discussions were made on the White Paper.

"I always found great co-operation from the MOC president and the other members in the group. There was mutual respect from all parts. But, I guess, this particular question should be addressed to them," he said.

"To be honest, some changes were made to the proposed law. But they were minor ones, all cosmetic. There were no modifications in certain crucial aspects - autonomy, finances, arbitration. I believe, the MOC should have been acknowledged in the new law and not registered to the council, be it automatic or not."

Many were of the opinion that a new Sports Law was badly needed to supervise our sport. But was it really necessary to create a new body?

"It would be unfair if I had to comment on this matter," Psaila said.

"After all, I think the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport forms part of minister Mugliett's strategy to improve in this sector. He's a dynamic person and part of the GSSE 2003 success was his merit. I think there is a role for Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport... I'm not against it. I'm only contesting what is written in the law."

Psaila said he was overwhelmed by the kindness showed to him by athletes, officials and volunteers after announcing his decision to retire.

"There was an amazing response when I left the national football team in 1993 but this was bigger," he said. "That shows I've done well during my time at the MOC, especially these last few years.

"We had some astounding results and introduced various schemes. More importantly, we've planned the GSSE 2003 to the smallest detail... it was a great success. In 1993, the organisers at the time finished with a deficit of Lm230,000. The Malta Games this year have made a good profit.

"Now, I think I deserve some rest and plan to spend more time with my family. I hardly saw my two teenage boys grow up due to a constant pressure of work - I will seek to make up for that."