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According to MFA president Bjorn Vassallo, low budget is one of the biggest reasons Maltese Football clubs fail to meet expectations in European championships.

Maltese football clubs still have a long way to go compared to their European counterparts. MFA President Bjorn Vassallo said the main reason this year’s failure in European competition is the low budget. He also said that sometimes there are moments of overreaction and conversation about the clubs winning European group stages before the necessary institutions are in place and that comparing the budgets of their clubs with those of their opponents in European football reveals a pattern: when their clubs have lower budgets, they are generally better and more competitive. However, the teams tend to be weaker when the budgets are higher. The president added that while technical aspects and on-pitch events can sometimes reverse this trend, it is not always possible.

No Maltese club has managed to qualify after the second round this year.

Vassallo stated that the MFA is working to address shortcomings related to club structure. He mentioned that they are transitioning from a sui generis status, where members own clubs, to a private business model, with clubs owned by private investors. He cited the examples of Cyprus and Latvia, which had already introduced a professional football league some time ago.

He mentioned that the new initiative will require a significant change in the legal framework for the biggest clubs on the island. However, he noted that this change would also provide these clubs with autonomy and greater resources, allowing them to implement football-commercial philosophies. This shift will enable clubs to attract foreign investment, engage in multiple club ownership, and explore partnership ownership opportunities.

Maltese football enters a new era.

Vassallo talked about the Malta Premier League as part of a larger reform initiative, saying that it would give teams more financial and sporting influence. He clarified that the goal entails implementing the same ideas that have helped other leagues become profitable businesses, increasing professionalization and revenue streams. This strategy is in line with the MFA’s attempts to assist the nation’s elite clubs in becoming more self-sufficient and welcoming to international investment.

He did, however, issue a warning that any adjustments need to be handled carefully. Although their goal is to bring in new funding for the clubs, success is not assured. Vassallo stressed the significance of strategic planning, setting a realistic business model as a top priority, defining football philosophies, creating a clear development route, allocating funds for football infrastructure and player welfare, and obtaining human resources skills. The restructure might only produce the intended results with these components.

Even though he realized there was still more work to be done, he was certain that the Association was rising to the occasion by providing clubs with the resources they required to go toward more professionalism. Despite their best efforts, Maltese clubs are still lagging behind teams from Cyprus, Latvia, Azerbaijan, and Finland, as Vassallo pointed out in his concluding remarks, underscoring the situation’s reality.