Traffic and security arrangements for Malta-England

The Malta Football Association and the Police explained the traffic and security arrangements for next Friday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Malta and England, being played at the National Stadium, during a press conference at the Centenary Hall on Tuesday. MFA General Secretary Dr Angelo Chetcuti, Police Inspector Robert Vella and Director of the MFA International and Events Department Joe Cassar addressed the press conference.

The National Stadium ring road will be closed from early morning on Thursday with the access roads around the stadium being closed during the night between Thursday and Friday. These access roads include the roads leading from the Malta Model Aircraft Flying Association, the Malta Aviation Museum, the Mtarfa Military Cemetery and the American Embassy to the National Stadium.

The car parks in front of the National Stadium, in front of the MFCC and in front of the entrance of the National Park will not be open to the general public. Only those holding a Parking Pass will be allowed to enter the restricted areas. The Malta FA has made parking arrangements for those persons making use of a wheelchair who have purchased tickets for the match.

The parking areas open for the general public will be the Monti area, the Crafts Village, the road from the Crafts Village to the Mtarfa Military Cemetery and Triq L-Infetti (from Saqqajja to roundabout next to Mtarfa Military Cemetery).

To access the Monti area, the public is being asked to use Pitkali Road, Attard or Triq Durumblat, Mosta; to access the parking area between the Crafts Village and the Mtarfa Military Cemetery from Mdina Road, Attard, through Vjal l-Istadium Nazzjonali and the Crafts Village and for the parking area in Triq l-Infetti from Saqqajja.

Since Thursday 31st August is the last day of the summer transfer window, the Malta FA Registrations Department and Reception will remain open until midnight but the National Stadium ring road will be closed for traffic while the Millennium Stand car park will be closed. The Millennium Clinic will be closed between 31st August and 3rd September; the Millennium Pool will close as of Thursday at noon while the MFA gym will be closed all day on Friday.

On Match Day, the gates at the stadium open at 18:30. There will be no ticket for sale as these were all sold out. Fans are being reminded that, while the West Stand and Millennium E sectors are on an Allocated Seating basis, the Millennium, North and South Stands are on a Free Seating (first come first served) basis. Indicative signage and stadium stewards will be on site on match-day to give directions to those attending the match.

Local club nurseries who have been allocated free tickets for the Malta-England match under the Malta FA’s Football Social Responsibility Programme are to collect their tickets from the Millennium D sector.

The nursery members and coaches can sit on the west and east sides of the South Stand as the central area is earmarked for paying fans. There will be dedicated parking for the buses and vans carrying nursery teams.

The police will conduct security checks and body searches on spectators outside the turnstiles to ensure that:
• Spectators enter the correct area of the stadium.
• Spectators do not bring any objects/substances into the stadium that are likely to be used in acts of violence, or alcohol or fireworks of any kind.
• Access is prohibited to known or potential troublemakers, or persons who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Flags and banners will not be permitted if attached to solid sticks, etc.

Official Matchday Programmes can be purchased from the ticket booths in the following sectors – West C, Millennium D and Centenary Stadium. MFA-accredited salespersons will be selling Official Matchday Programmes in every sector of the National Stadium.