Birkirkara FC appeal on 10,000 euros fine on UEFA licence application not upheld

Birkirkara FC’s appeal against the 10,000 euros fined imposed on the club by the UEFA Member Clubs Licensing Board was not upheld by the MFA Appeals Board, the Times of Malta can confirm.

On April 27, the UEFA Members Clubs Licensing Board had granted the Stripes a licence allowing it to participate in UEFA competitions in season 2021-22 but in the process sanctioned the club and fined it 10,000 euros for failing to mention a significant change that had occurred in relation to the club licensing criteria in time of submission as obliged by the UEFA regulations.

Birkirkara lodged an appeal against the fine which was heard by the board earlier this month.

However, in their ruling the board has turned down Birkirkara’s appeal.

“The Board noted that in considering the Licensing Application by Birkirkara F.C., the latter had fulfilled all the following criteria, namely (a) Sporting, (b) Administrative and Personal (c) Legal (f) Financial and (e) Infrastructure and in view of the above the Licence Board had unanimously decided to accept the Application and proceeded to grant the Licence applied for,” the Appeals Board said in its ruling.

“It so transpired however that although Birkirkara FC. as duty bound had to make written representations to the Association by the 17th April, 2021 in which the Club had to confirm in writing the requisites set out in Rule 47 of the Regulations, a condition which the Club had complied with, it had at the time of submission of their written representations, manifestly failed to mention and confirm a significant change that had occurred in relation to the Club licensing criteria as it was obliged to do and required by Rule 47 (ii) (b) of the Regulations.”

The board said that the opinion of the Member Clubs Licensing Board was correct in considering this omission by Birkirkara FC “to be grave and very serious” and was fully justified in imposing a fine of 10,000 euros on the club.