Darmanin Demajo to stand for re-election

MFA President Norman Darmanin Demajo said he was standing for re-election during the Annual General Meeting which will be held on July 30.

Darmanin Demajo was elected for the first time to the post of president in August 2010, ousting Dr Joe Mifsud. Three years later, he was confirmed as president defeating Dr Peter Fenech in an election.

Addressing the Council of the Malta Football Association on Monday, Darmanin Demajo said he thought well about whether to submit his candidature or not but finally he said he took the decision which he feels made more sense for the association at this point.

The MFA President stressed that if re-elected, this would definitely be his last term as president.

Although there seems to be no other candidate for the post of president, at least two Council members are expected to submit their nomination for the posts of Vice-Presidents. The three Vice-Presidents are Dr Chris Bonnett, Alex Manfre and Ludovico Micallef.

Darmanin Demajo enouraged anyone who has something to offer to the game to submit their nomination, saying that elections for the top posts, including that of President, were healthy for the association.

Earlier during the meeting, Darmanin Demajo spoke about former UEFA president Michel Platini. The MFA President said that he had spoken to Platini, a few days before the Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing where he was appealing against his six-year FIFA ban for ethics violations, and he looked confident that he would be cleared. However now that the CAS only reduced his suspension to four years, his career is probably over. Darmanin Demajo described Platini as a person who supported fully the Malta Football Association. The election for the new UEFA President will be held in September.

Meanwhile during the same meeting of the Council, it was confirmed that works on the pitch of the National Stadium which will feature a hybrid blend of natural and artificial turf will start immediately after the friendly match between Italy and Scotland being played on Sunday. This hybrid natural grass system, which has already been installed in stadiums like Wembley Stadium, the Emirates Stadium and The FA’s St. George’s Park, is able to handle the heavy schedule of games at Ta’ Qali.

The first game on the new pitch will be the European Qualifier between Malta and Scotland on September 4. BOV Premier League matches in programme in August will therefore be played in other venues.