Three players from ‘top leagues’ could switch to Malta national team

Amendments to the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes were approved during the FIFA Congress which was held online last Friday and now include new provisions relating to the exceptions to the general prohibition on changing associations.

MFA President Bjorn Vassallo revealed that thanks to these amendments, three players has been identified and could do the change of association in the immediate future. They all play top football in Europe or in another confederation.

Vassallo said if the MFA Technical Centre agrees, the association would start discussions on the change of association since they qualify through their Maltese descent.

Photo: Copyright domenic aquilina/MFA

Last month, Enrico Pepe and Teddy Teuma both obtained Maltese citizenship and made their debut for Malta earlier this month in the UEFA Nations League.

Pepe was awarded citizenship by merit while Teuma obtained Maltese citizenship through his Maltese descent.

Another member of the national squad, Luke Gambin, who had also obtained Maltese citizenship through his Maltese descent, has already been playing for Malta for the past four years.