The Malta Football Association’s Football Social Responsibility (FSR) Department recently organised the Stop the Hate (STH) Convention, a key initiative forming part of its inclusive programmes under UEFA’s HatTrick programme for 2025/26.
The event took place at Centenary Hall in Ta’ Qali on Saturday, 25 April 2026.
The Stop the Hate campaign was launched earlier this season following an agreement between the Malta FA and the Victim Support Agency (VSA). Throughout the campaign, visibility was also given to the VSA to help raise awareness among individuals in need of support about the services available to them and their rights. Through this collaboration, the Malta FA and VSA have worked together to educate, engage and inform the wider community on this important issue.
This year, 68 clubs will benefit from the Stop the Hate campaign, with each club receiving €1,000 in recognition of their partnership with the Malta FA in supporting the initiative. The funds were presented to the clubs during the convention.
Throughout the season, all clubs competing in Malta FA-organised competitions wore captains’ armbands carrying the Stop the Hate message.
The Stop the Hate Convention allowed players, coaches, educators, psychosocial professionals and social advocates to come together, providing a platform for the sharing of good practices, as well as creating synergies between football and victim support services.
Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment Byron Camilleri introduced the event, before it was then also addressed by Malta FA Senior Vice President Dr Matthew Paris, as well as VSA Chief Executive Officer Brian Farrugia.
“What began as a conversation in an office has grown into the second edition of the Stop the Hate Convention. This is not just a talking shop, but the culmination of season-long initiatives tackling a very real social problem: hate speech,” Dr Paris remarked.
“The Malta FA is once again using its platform to spread a message of positive hope,” he added.
Mr Farrugia emphasised that football is the world’s game and that when hate finds a voice in it, we all lose.
“Hate-related language and gestures, whether on the pitch, in dressing rooms, in the stands, or online, definitely cause pain and long-lasting traumatic effects on individuals and communities,” he remarked. Mr Farrugia added that the collaboration between the VSA and the Malta FA reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that football remains a safe and welcoming environment for all, reinforcing the message that hate speech has no place in the game.
The VSA continues to play a central role in addressing hate speech and hate crime through its preventive campaign and free accessible victim support services that include the provision of information, emotional support, and legal advice amongst others. The 116 006 remains its main port of call for any individual who has been subject to crime and as an agency, the VSA entrusted football clubs to encourage players and parents to seek help and support whenever required.
The VSA and the Malta FA both expressed their appreciation for the shared collaboration and the implementation of this project, which shall result in an improved response to hate incidents, strengthening victim support systems, and promoting education to counter harmful narratives and discrimination across communities.
Darren Lewis, President of the Sports Journalists Association of the United Kingdom addressed the convention. Mr Lewis is a seasoned, award-winning journalist and has been committed to opening pathways and opportunities for journalists for the last 20 years. He has also campaigned relentlessly for more opportunities for diversity when it comes to managers, referees, and officials across English football.
