Replacement of Synthetic Pitches within 8 years

An agreement was signed on Friday for the replacement of synthetic football pitches in the coming years. Signing was presided by Malta FA President Bjorn Vassallo, Minister for Inclusion and Social Wellbeing Julia Farrugia Portelli and Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Sport & Voluntary Organisations Clifton Grima. The aim behind this Agreement is that within eight years starting from this year the synthetic football pitches’ surfaces in Malta are replaced. The Malta Football Association will be leading this one time project in agreement with the respective football clubs and according to the conditions of this agreement whilst the government will contribute financially as assistance in this one time project. The mission of the Malta FA is to develop and promote football development throughout the country, moreso the need to ensure safe and well-maintained football facilities throughout the Maltese islands; As part of the aim to this agreement, funds will be provided to improve football facilities in Malta to the benefit of all who are involved in or would like to become involved in football. The agreement also reaffirm the commitment by parties involved that over a period of eight years, starting from year 2021, the MFA is to start removing the synthetic football pitches’ surfaces currently in place at football grounds around the country and replace them with new synthetic pitches. As part of the agreement the ministry will provide the amount of €6 million as funding to the MFA for the replacement and installation of the abovementioned synthetic surfaces. Malta FA President Bjorn Vassallo highlighted the fact that over the past fourteen years the Association has invested heavily with a figure exceeding €22million in football pitches around the country. “This agreement also reflects the government is duly understanding all the efforts by the Association not just to improve the level of the game from it’s grassroots to elite, but it’s important role in society with the embellishment and improvement of these pitches. “This agreement is fundamental also not only to raise the level when it comes to infrastructure, but also maintain high standards in technical and medical aspects, all this part of our strategy we have embarked on since early this year, and albeit all hurdles with pandemic we are on the right path in reaching our goals”, Vassallo concluded.