Mtarfa FC will be allowed to compete in the 2025–2026 Challenge League season, but will begin with a six-point deduction, sources within the Malta Football Association have confirmed to Malta Sport. The decision was taken by the MFA licensing board earlier this week following an internal review of the club’s finances and player disputes.
Despite being granted permission to participate in the upcoming campaign, Mtarfa remains blocked from registering any new players due to unresolved financial obligations. According to sources close to the matter, the club still owes thousands of euros in unpaid wages to at least five players from last season’s squad who have not reached a settlement agreement. The players remain in limbo, with no indication of when or if they will receive what they are owed.
This development follows a Malta Sport investigation published earlier this week, which exposed claims of intimidation and last-minute settlement offers made by club officials to former players. It was alleged that players were asked to sign informal agreements promising future payment in exchange for silence, with the warning that failure to agree could lead to the club folding entirely.
The Malta Football Players Association has since issued a public statement responding to the situation. The MFPA expressed serious concern over the treatment of the players and called for stronger safeguards to protect those who represent clubs professionally.
The affected players are currently left in a state of uncertainty and financial distress, some of whom have not been paid for months, the MFPA said. It added that clubs must not be allowed to continue operating without fulfilling their legal and moral obligations.
The MFPA also warned that the Mtarfa case is not isolated but reflects a broader pattern in Maltese football where players are exposed to precarious working conditions without meaningful recourse. The issue at hand is not only about one club, but about the credibility and fairness of the football ecosystem, the statement continued.
Malta Sport has been informed that 18 players are currently training with Mtarfa FC in preparation for the new season. However, it remains unclear whether any of these players are under professional contracts or whether they are participating informally and without wages. The lack of transparency surrounding the squad raises further questions about the club’s operations and its compliance with MFA regulations.
The Malta Football Association has yet to release an official public statement on the matter. With the Challenge League season approaching, the spotlight remains firmly on Mtarfa FC and the association’s next steps in ensuring fairness, accountability and the protection of player rights within Maltese football.
