The Malta Football Association welcomes the announcement, in the Budget 2027 speech, of 10 days of paid sports leave for athletes representing Malta at European and world championships, as well as for members of the technical and medical teams accompanying them.

The introduction of sports leave was proposed by the Malta FA, which has long advocated for a measure that would enable national team players and support staff to fulfil their international commitments without having to make use of their personal leave entitlement.

The Association believes that this measure is a positive step towards supporting athletes and staff who combine elite sport with full-time employment, and that it will help them pursue further their development at the highest level. The Malta FA looks forward to working with the relevant authorities on the implementation of the measure.

In recent years, the Malta FA has worked closely with the Government and its authorities on worthwhile projects and initiatives to encourage sportspeople. We are pleased to see that this work will continue. With the strong financial allocation for the sports sector, we are confident we can keep working together on projects that raise the standard of the game in our country.