March 2 – World players’ union FIFPro is advising foreign players against joining two of the 12 clubs in Malta’s Premier League after evidence emerged of poor treatment, including youngsters from Nigeria and the United States.
Players who recently signed contracts with Mosta FC and Pembroke Athleta say they were housed in cramped conditions, and were ignored or even threatened when they complained about not getting paid on time.
The two clubs are currently fighting to avoid relegation and during the January transfer window brought in several new foreign players, particularly Pembroke who have almost changed their entire line-up of overseas recruits.
FIFAPro says dozens of young players from outside the European Union have been lured to sign contracts in Malta because it is relatively easy to secure a work visa. However, most players on the Mediterranean island earn less than $2,000 per month and, according to the recently-released 2016 FIFPro Global Employment Report, 79% are not paid on time.
One teenaged American player told FIFPro that he signed a contract with Pembroke with the intention of kick-starting his career in Europe but his complaints about not even being paid a meagre salary of €700 per month on time were ignored.
“I tried complaining but they really don’t care about foreign players,” the unnamed player was quoted as saying. “My words pretty much meant nothing to the club.”
He was apparently among five American players offered contracts in Malta after a US-based academy arranged for him to play in a trial game in Sweden to showcase his skills. He spent more than $4,000 on travel and accommodation.
FIFPro has also spoken to several Nigerians who said they were among 15 foreign players squeezed into a four-bedroom house after signing to play for Mosta. Some complained of the cold because the home had no central heating.
“They can bring African players at any time, they just get rid of the old ones,” one of the Nigerians said. “Nigerian players are better off in Africa.”
Contacted by Times of Malta newspaper, Mosta FC president George Galea strongly denied the accusations of maltreatment of players and accused FIFPro of failing to verify the facts.
“I categorically deny all the accusations made by FIFPro,” Galea said. “I’m disappointed that an organisation like FIFPro rushed into conclusions and didn’t check the real facts with us. It’s not true that we placed 15 foreigners in a four-bedroom house. All our overseas players are housed in five different accommodations and they live in very good conditions.
“As regards the central heating complaint, it’s just a frivolous comment as in Malta very few residences have central heating installed.”
Alex Calleja, the Pembroke Athleta FC president, also dismissed the report.
“We always try and pay our players in time and I had never received any complaint from one of them either through FIFA, UEFA or the Malta FA. We have always honoured our contracts,” the paper quoted him as saying.
“In January, we replaced most of our foreigners and none of the ones who left have come back to complain that they were not paid their dues.
“As regards the American player who is alleging to have paid $4,000 in travel and accommodation expenses, I want to make it clear that we have nothing to do with all this as that formed part of the agreement he had with his academy to find a football club based in Europe.”
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