The Maltese Premier League may be on the verge of introducing a limited form of video assistance, following remarks by MPL chairman Dr Joseph Muscat, who confirmed that discussions are ongoing to trial a challenge-based system starting next season.
Speaking on the Premier League football programme L-Argument, Dr Muscat stated that the Malta Football Association (MFA) is currently in talks with FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to secure approval for the implementation of the new system.
Under the proposed framework, each team would be allowed two opportunities per match to request a video review. These reviews would be initiated exclusively by the coach or captain and would apply to contentious moments such as goals, penalties, or red card incidents. If introduced, this would mark the first time any form of video-assisted refereeing is used in Maltese top-flight football.
While Dr Muscat did not provide technical details or make direct comparisons, it is understood that the system being proposed would be far more modest than the full VAR operations used in major European competitions. Nonetheless, it is being viewed as a constructive step forward, both for teams competing at an elite level and for referees tasked with making high-pressure decisions.
Referees in Malta have already received training related to video assistance over the past two seasons. Notably, sessions were delivered by David Elleray, who has served as Technical Director for IFAB since at least May 2016 and brings extensive experience in training top referees on the principles and protocols of VAR.
A decision on whether the proposed challenge-based system will be granted official approval is expected in the coming months. If confirmed, the development would represent a significant milestone for officiating standards in the Maltese Premier League.
