Malta FA Forms Committee Amid Cannabis Sponsorship Backlash

The Malta Football Association (MFA) has set up a committee in response to criticism over its sponsorship deal with the Association for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC), the country’s cannabis regulator. The deal, which provides funding for around 160 underprivileged children to join football nurseries, has sparked controversy, with some questioning the logic of accepting money from a cannabis regulator. The MFA has defended the partnership, stating it’s part of ARUC’s broader harm reduction strategy to promote physical activity and steer people away from drug use. The association emphasized that the funding is derived from public sources and doesn’t promote cannabis in any form, as it’s a prohibited substance under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list.