Saturday’s opening match between Valletta FC and Birkirkara FC sparked strong reactions after hundreds of Valletta supporters were left outside the stadium, despite reports of empty sections inside. Valletta FC issued a firm statement expressing their frustration, while the Malta Premier later responded with an explanation and apology.
Valletta FC Statement:
“Saturday’s opening match once again showed the incredible passion and loyalty of our supporters. The Valletta stand was sold out well before kick-off, creating a sea of red and white that any club would be proud of, as it should be for the largest club in Malta.
Yet, while hundreds of our supporters remained outside the stadium, large sections of the ground stood empty, kept closed due to poor planning and a lack of foresight. This is not acceptable and Valletta FC will not be accepting it.
At a time when Maltese football is struggling to attract people to the stadiums, Valletta FC has worked tirelessly to promote the game and bring fans back. Our supporters deserve better, their commitment and love for the Club should be met with respect, not obstacles.
We will be formally raising this matter with the relevant entities as this should never be allowed to happen again. Our message is clear: supporters are the lifeblood of football, and they must never be turned away.
To every Valletta fan who came on Saturday, whether inside the stand or left outside, thank you.
Your loyalty drives us forward, and we will continue fighting for you, both on and off the pitch.”
Malta Premier Statement:
“The Malta Premier would like to extend its sincere apologies to supporters who were temporarily denied access to Saturday’s match between Valletta FC and Birkirkara FC.
This disruption was caused by a failure in the ticketing system, provided to Malta Premier as part of the lease of the venue, which incorrectly marked Valletta’s ticket allocation as sold out.
The total attendance for Valletta FC was of 1305, with the maximum side capacity being 1495.
The issue was identified and resolved on site, and the supporters still on site were eventually granted entry.
We deeply regret the inconvenience caused and greatly appreciate the patience and understanding shown by our fans during the incident.
The Malta Premier has taken immediate steps to address the matter with the system’s owners.
Additional safeguards and system checks are being introduced to ensure this does not happen again and to provide a smoother experience for all supporters in future events.
We thank all fans for their continued support of Maltese football.”
