Malta’s representatives in the UEFA club competitions have been given an added incentive to perform well in this summer’s qualifiers after the Minister for Tourism unveiled a new scheme to help the teams playing in European football.
The draws of the UEFA club competitions will be held this month with Ħamrun Spartans involved in the Champions League qualifiers while Birkirkara, Gżira United and Balzan will be in action in the UEFA Conference League.
On the other hand, Birkirkara will have a second team in action as their women’s selection will be in action in the Champions League.
Speaking during a news conference at Ministry for Tourism, Clayton Bartolo announced that all teams in this summer’s competition will have the VisitMalta brand on their shirts and will receive their sponsorship grant according to their performances this summer.
“All teams playing in Europe will receive an initial grant of €10,000,” Bartolo said.
“This summer, there will be an added incentive for each club as for every round that they will manage to surpass they will receive another €10,000.
“I firmly believe that our small size should never be a ceiling for the aspirations of Maltese sport.
“Instead, we should be more proactive to incentivise more sporting bodies to compete abroad and not only provide a good advert for our country but more importantly secure international success.”
Last summer, Maltese football enjoyed an historic summer in the UEFA clubs’ competitions as Ħamrun Spartans became the first team to reach the Play off Round of the UEFA Conference League, only to bow out to Partizan Belgrade, of Serbia.
On the other hand, Hibernians and Gżira United reached the third qualifying round of the Conference League.
Ħamrun Spartans will discover their opponents in the UEFA Champions League when the draw is made in Nyon on June 20.
On the same date, the UEFA Conference League draws, which involve Birkirkara, Gżira United and Balzan, will also be held.
The draws of the Women’s Champions League is scheduled for June 30.
