Malta Football Association holds fruitful meeting with CRPD

A delegation from the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD), led by Oliver Scicluna, had a meeting with Malta Football Association officials, headed by president Bjorn Vassallo, on Monday.  Accessible stadium facilities and services for persons with disability, and opportunities for further collaboration between the Malta FA and the CRPD were the main topics discussed during the cordial meeting, held at the Malta FA offices. Vassallo reiterated the Malta FA’s commitment to improve the facilities for fans with a disability as well as to offer them a better and more inclusive matchday experience, adding that the appointment of Peter Busuttil as Disability Access Officer (DAO) in 2016 has helped in this aspect. To this end, in 2017 the Malta FA hosted two representatives of the Centre of Access to Football in Europe (CAFE), a Corporate Social Responsibility associate partner of UEFA. The information sessions for Malta FA stadium staff and club representatives focused on how to increase inclusivity for fans who have some form of disability, etiquette and further improve communication, and how to improve their matchday experience, areas the Malta FA and CRPD will be looking to develop further. Monday’s meeting between the Malta FA and the CRPD was the first between the two entities since Vassallo was elected president of the Association.