Both Gżira United and Valletta FC have gone public with their frustration over the Malta Football Association’s refusal to postpone their respective Meridianbet FA Trophy semi-finals, which are currently scheduled for Saturday 4th April 2026.
Gżira United say they formally requested a postponement on the grounds that six of their players are away on international duty, four with the Under-21 national side and two with senior national teams, one representing Malta and another San Marino. The club argue that having players away for three full weeks makes it impossible to prepare properly as a team. The Under-21 players are not due back in Malta until 6pm on 1st April, following a twelve-hour journey home after fixtures in Greece on 27th March and Georgia on 31st March, meaning the squad would have just one training session together before the match. The senior international players face a similarly tight turnaround.
Gżira United say their request was blocked following an objection from Naxxar FC, with the MFA not only rejecting the postponement but also moving the kick-off to an earlier time on the same day. The club feel this is deeply unfair, arguing that clubs who invest in young players and support the national cause should not be penalised for doing so. They are calling on the MFA to review the decision and urging that future scheduling of important matches such as FA Trophy semi-finals, which carry a place in UEFA competition, should take international windows into account from the outset.
Valletta FC are similarly aggrieved. Five of their players have been called up for international duty, and the club say they proposed a modest adjustment, moving their semi-final against Birkirkara FC by two days to Monday 6th April. That request was turned down by both Birkirkara and the MFA. Valletta stress that this is not simply a matter of scheduling convenience but one of sporting integrity, pointing out that players returning just two days before a semi-final have no realistic chance of proper preparation, with player welfare also a concern.
The club say they will continue to proudly support the national team but insist that such support must not come at the cost of fair competition at club level. They are calling on Birkirkara to reconsider their stance and on the MFA to act responsibly. Valletta make clear they will not stay quiet when they believe the basic principles of fairness and competitive integrity are being undermined.
