Former MFA General Secretary and current FIFA Director for Europe Bjorn Vassallo is the new President of the Malta Football Association after defeating former MFA Vice-President and current ISA treasurer and council member Dr Chris Bonett by 83 votes to 54 in the election which was held during the Malta Football Association’s Annual General Meeting at the Grand Hotel Excelsior on Sunday.
Vassallo replaces Norman Darmanin Demajo who had earlier announced that he would not be standing for re-election after serving for nine years in the post.
Thirty-nine year old Bjorn Vassallo is currently serving as Director for Europe at FIFA.
He started his football administration career at San Gwann FC. After serving as council member for the club, he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Football Association in August 2010 but in July 2014, the post of CEO was abolished and he was appointed MFA General Secretary.
Vassallo served as member of the UEFA Player Status Committee and National Teams Competitions Committee. Apart from serving as venue director and match commissioner in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches, he was venue director in Nice for the the EURO 2016 and part of the team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He was also chairman if the organising committee for the UEFA Under-17 Championship which was held in Malta in 2014.
Bjorn Vassallo stepped down in October 2016 after accepting an offer by FIFA to serve as Director Member Associations in Europe.
Meanwhile in the election for the three posts of Vice-President, Dr Matthew Paris and Ludovico Micallef were confirmed while former Director of Refereeing Adrian Casha was elected for the first time.
Dr Matthew Paris obtained 103 votes, Ludovico Micallef 67, Adrian Casha 60 votes; Dr Peter Fenech 59; Dr Cory Greenland 58 and Alex Manfrè 23.
Treasurer Ivan Mizzi was uncontested and was therefore reconfirmed to the post.
Other elections were necessary for the posts of Ordinary Members of the Executive Committee for season 2019/20 to represent First Division clubs, Third Division clubs and member clubs in general.
Joseph Sammut (Pieta Hotspurs) and Lawrence Seychell (Vittoriosa Stars) were elected to represent First Division clubs after obtaining 91 votes and 56 votes respectively. Paul Falzon (St. Andrews) obtained 52 votes.
Chris Grech (Gharghur) and Dr Cory Greenland (Marsaskala) were elected to represent Third Division clubs after obtaining 68 and 78 votes respectively. Raymond Micallef (Attard) obtained 47 votes.
For the representatives of member clubs in general, Claudio Martinelli (Tarxien Rainbows) and Chris Muscat (Mgarr United) were elected as the two representatives with 47 and 50 votes respectively. Paul Falzon (St. Andrews) and Raymond Micallef (Attard) obtained 41 and 42 does respectively. Jesmond Abela withdrew his nomination while the nominations of Chris Grech and Joseph Sammut were withdrawn after they were already elected to represent Third Division and First Division clubs.
The Officers of the Malta Football Association for the years 2019-2022 are therefore:
PRESIDENT
Bjorn Vassallo
VICE-PRESIDENT
Adrian Casha; Ludovico Micallef; Dr Matthew Paris.
TREASURER
Ivan Mizzi
The Ordinary Members of the Executive Committee for season 2019/2020:
PREMIER DIVISION
Dr Ian Micallef (Gzira United); Paul Spiteri (Valletta)
FIRST DIVISION
Joseph Sammut (Pieta Hotspurs); Lawrence Seychell (Vittoriosa Stars)
SECOND DIVISION
Godfrey Borg (Luqa St. Andrew’s); Paul Zammit (Melita)
THIRD DIVISION
Chris Grech (Gharghur); Dr Cory Greenland (Marsaskala)
MEMBER CLUBS IN GENERAL
Claudio Martinelli (Tarxien Rainbows); Chris Muscat (Mgarr United).
MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS
Lawrence Aquilina (Malta Football Coaches Association); Lino Bartolo (District Football Leagues).
GOZO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Dr Samuel Azzopardi
YOUTH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Joe Micallef