The Malta Football Association (MFA) has approved a series of important amendments to its player transfer regulations, following a historic agreement with FIFPRO that led to the withdrawal of legal proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
During the Malta FA Executive Board meeting held on 26 May 2025, the Association introduced changes to Section IV of the “Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players,” specifically targeting the mandatory registration period for amateur players with clubs. The new rules also affect players under the age of 18.
Previously, a player’s registration at the age of 14 would automatically remain valid until they turned 18. Under the new system, a player will now be registered in two separate phases: from age 14 to 16, and then from age 16 to 18. This update brings greater clarity and protection for young players and clubs alike.
The reforms are the result of extensive discussions within the Malta FA’s Social Dialogue Committee, which includes representatives from member clubs and the Malta Football Players Association (MFPA), with the mediation of the Malta FA. The breakthrough agreement with FIFPRO brought an end to ongoing CAS proceedings, which will now be officially withdrawn.
Also presented during the same meeting was a revised Player Registration Form for the upcoming 2025/26 season. The form will be generated through the COMET system (the MFA’s online club management platform) to combat previous abuses observed in the registration process for the following season.
Each form will now be stamped with a generation date and a unique serial number to ensure it complies with the rule that player registrations must take place only after the season has officially ended. The MFA confirmed that any registration forms created before the end of the current season will be deemed invalid.
These changes aim to improve transparency and accountability in the registration of youth players and form part of the MFA’s ongoing commitment to reforming internal processes in collaboration with stakeholders — always in the best interest of the game and those who play and administer it.
