The Challenge League Standing Committee issued a statement in which it expressed its disappointment that the Malta Premier League has not accepted a request by clubs in the Challenge League to receive a percentage of the solidarity funds for the 2025/26 season.

“The Challenge League Standing Committee is disappointed that the Malta Premier League (MPL) has not accepted the request made by clubs in the second tier of Maltese football to receive solidarity funds for the 2025/2026 season — funds that clubs could access following a decision by Premier League clubs themselves.”

“Over recent months, a relationship of dialogue was built between the Standing Committee and the MPL, specifically between the central leadership of both parties.”

“There was a sense of collaboration which we genuinely believed could have led to a different conclusion. The discussions were centred on what is needed to continue improving football in our country, always in line with the existing rules of the MFA.”

“We are therefore surprised that the MPL specifically the majority of Premier League teams did not agree to allocate a small percentage of funds coming from solidarity payments from others through the Champions League competition, in order to share it among a number of clubs for use in youth development. This practice had always been followed up until the recently concluded season, during which for the first time the fund was managed by the MPL.”

“One point we strongly emphasise is the fact that today’s Challenge League has developed a solid economic structure that has grown significantly over recent years. It is a semi-professional league that is providing a lot of space to local players and coaches with important potential.”

“Both the Standing Committee and the MPL have always agreed that there is no longer room for amateurism at the higher levels of football in Malta.”

“Therefore, if there are significant funds available to the MPL (around €2,500,000) coming from UEFA and the MPL is aware that it has a duty to pass on a small percentage to Challenge League clubs we had expected this gesture of solidarity to be maintained, just as it was in the previous season, thanks to the same MPL.”

Meanwhile the Malta Premier League replied that according to the new UEFA regulations, these funds are intentioned for clubs in the top tier and these could decide whether to hand, up to 15% of these funds to clubs in the second category.

“Il-Malta Premier League, li tirraprezenta lill-klabbs tal-Malta Premier tirreferi ghal stqarrija tal-istanding committee tac-Challenge League.”

Dawn huma l-fatti:

Ir-regoli godda tal-UEFA jgħidu li l-fondi ta’ solidarjeta’ huma intenzjonati għall-klabbs fl-ogħla kampjonat ta’ kull pajjiz; f’dan il-każ il-Malta Premier.

B’ deċiżjoni ta’ maġġoranża kwalifikata, dawn il-klabbs jistgħu jiddeċiedu li jagħtu sa’ 15% ta’ dawn il-fondi lill-kategorija ta’ taħthom.

Fl-istaġun li għadda, l-MPL tagħat 12.5% ta’ dawn il-fondi, l-ogħla persentaġġ minn kwalunkwe kampjonat fl-Ewropa.

Kuntrarju ghal dak li qed jingħad minn sħabna taċ-Challenge League, l-ammont ta’ fondi ta’ solidarjeta għall-istaġun li jmiss għadu ma ġiex determinat mill-UEFA.

L-MPL qed tiddiskuti jekk u kif se tqassam dawn il-flus skont ir-regoli tal-UEFA.

Min-naħa tal-istanding committee tac-Challenge League, dan unilateralment imponew fuq l-MPL li deċiżjoni tittieħed qabel il-bidu tal-istaġun, u anke għal aktar minn sena, saħansitra qabel ma l-MPL stess tkun mgħarrfa bl-ammonti li se jingħataw mill-UEFA.

L-istagun li għadda, d-deċiżjoni dwar li jingħata ammont liċ-Challenge League kienet ittieħdet 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗔 li saru magħrufa l-ammonti tal-fondi mill-UEFA.

Dan mhux aċċettabbli għall-MPL li ma tistax tidħol għal deċiżjonijiet bħal dawn fil-għama, meta ma tafx l-ammonti li se jkunu allokati.

Hemm talbiet oħra bħal dawk li saru mill-Youth FA biex diviżjonijiet oħra ukoll jingħataw għajnuna b’xi mod u speċjalment meta hemm fatturi oħra li għadhom iridu jiġu kkunsidrati bħal l-introduzzjoni tal-Football Video Review fil-Malta Premier u jekk l-MFA hux se tkompli tikkontribwixxi għal Homegrown Fund.

Fil-gimghat li ġejjin, l-MPL se tkompli tistudja l-aħjar użu ta’ dawn il-fondi li issa qed jintużaw għal veru skop tagħhom u xejn aktar.