The Malta Football Players Association (MFPA) welcomes the amendment to the Malta Football Association regulations, which now stipulate that players aged 14 and older can only sign the 4-year term registration (ages 15-19) AFTER the end of the season (June 8th) in which they are eligible to play in the Under-15 Competition. Previously, players could sign before the season ended, effectively committing to a term of more than 4 years.

Regretfully, the MFPA knows of several instances where players were pressured, and in most cases their parents, to sign the registration form before the end of the season. Failure to comply often came with threats that the players would be excluded from the squad and spend the entire season on the bench. A few days ago, the MFPA learnt of a case where a parent was told by the head coach of the club academy that their daughter would only be allowed to leave on loan if she signed the four-year registration, otherwise she would not be called up to the squad for the entire season.

As the MFPA has stressed on several occasions, these actions are abusive and violate children’s human rights. This is not the right environment that encourages children to participate in sports. While the latest amendment by the Malta Football Association, is a small step towards improving the youth transfer system, there is still a long way to go.

CONSTRAINTS – YOUTH TRANSFER SYSTEM

During the four-year mandatory term (ages 15-19), children can only transfer to another club with their current club's consent, and the club can demand any fee they want. Recently, the parents of a 16-year-old were asked to pay 5,000 euros for their son to move to another club, even though his playing opportunities were limited. 

The MFPA has repeatedly pointed out that the current system undermines young amateur players, treating them like commodities and causing many to quit playing.

UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

This practice contradicts Article 32, Paragraph 1 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states the following: "States Parties recognize the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation." Furthermore, the UNCRC asserts that: "States Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child, and to participate freely."

Clearly, the current MFA regulations do not comply with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and should be revised immediately. 

The Office of the Commissioner for Children has also made their position clear and stated that “children should be able to participate freely in activities, voice their opinions, and enjoy their free time, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”, to which Malta is a signatory. 

CONCRETE ACTION NEEDED

It must be emphasised that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is a legally binding international agreement and, as a signatory, Malta has ratified and accepted an obligation to respect, protect, and fulfil the rights of children as outlined in the Convention. This includes adopting and changing laws and policies that are needed to implement the provisions of the agreement. Therefore, we again ask – why are the authorities reluctant to act on this matter?

It's time to move beyond taking a stance on the issue and actively fulfill the obligations to create a fair system that respects children’s rights.