Floriana FC has secured a landmark 45-year lease for the historic Xagħra tal-Furjana, paving the way for the development of modern sports facilities that will serve both the club and the wider community, Newsbook has reported.
The agreement, announced by the Ministry for Sport, will see SportMalta transfer the site to the club under a temporary emphyteusis title. A government subsidy will reduce the annual rent from €223,696.68 to €11,184.83, a 95% reduction.
Minister for Sport Clifton Grima said the deal will enable Floriana FC to move forward with long-awaited plans, including new administrative offices, gyms, and a sports clinic. He described the arrangement as “another example of the government’s commitment to supporting sports associations and clubs at all levels,” adding that it fulfils an electoral pledge.
The deal also resolves years of uncertainty over the site’s use, which has been both a source of pride and controversy. Once a cricket ground and later a parade ground for the British military, the Xagħra tal-Furjana is of historical significance as the place where the Maltese flag was first raised in 1964 to mark Independence. In recent years, the main pitch has been used as a car park, a practice that has been criticised by residents. Under the new lease, the area must be reserved exclusively for sporting purposes.
The facilities will be accessible to the community, including schoolchildren during school hours, through special arrangements. The club’s youth teams are also set to benefit from improved infrastructure, supporting grassroots football.
Floriana FC president Johann Said called the agreement “a qualitative leap in facilities” for the club and community. The club has previously announced plans to build a 4,000-seat stadium in collaboration with a private partner, though details have yet to be confirmed.
Matthew Pisani, speaking for SportMalta, said the deal reflected the organisation’s mission to ensure clubs have access to professional sporting facilities, open not only to athletes but also to students for physical activity in their local areas.
The agreement is part of a wider government strategy to support sports clubs through long-term legal arrangements rather than outright transfers of ownership. Rent from such deals will be channelled into a dedicated Sports Fund to be reinvested into the local sporting sector, creating a sustainable cycle of investment across Malta.
