2018-19 Best Fans Award expanded to cover all divisions

The supporters’ sterling contribution to their clubs and Maltese football will again be recognised during the 2019 MFA Awards.

Launched for the first time last year with the aim of honouring the efforts of supporters who consistently show their loyalty and backing to their club, the Best Fans Award will again be up for grabs during the annual end-of-season show.

In the first year, the Best Fans Award was open to the supporters of the 14 BOV Premier League clubs but the Organising Committee of the MFA Awards has taken heed of suggestions to expand this category to cover all divisions.

The supporters of Valletta FC, who completed a league and cup double last season, were the winners of the first Best Fans Award at the 2018 MFA Awards.

This season, the supporters of all the 53 clubs affiliated to the Malta Football Association have an added incentive to raise their game in the stands.

“The introduction of the Best Fans Award last year met with a very positive response from local football supporters,” Dr Matthew Paris, the Malta FA Vice-President who oversees the organisation of the MFA Awards, said. “This season, the championships across all four divisions are very interesting and keenly-contested, and the supporters are also doing their part to help their clubs and enliven the matchday atmosphere.

“We have expanded the Best Fans Award to cover all divisions as the supporters of every club affiliated to the Malta FA deserve to be considered for this accolade.

“We’re grateful to all the fans who, week in week out, go to the stadium to support their club. We also hope that the positive attendance trends recorded so far this season, especially in the BOV Premier League, are maintained in the coming months as our competitions reach an exciting finale.”

At the end of the season, a panel of football journalists will draw up a shortlist of candidates for the Best Fans Award who will then be awarded points based on the following three criteria:

• Turn-out during the season

• Choreography

• Good conduct

The disciplinary record of the fans will also be taken into consideration as fan-related offences that are subject to disciplinary action by the Malta FA Control and Disciplinary Board will result in point deductions for the three shortlisted candidates.

The winners of the 2018-19 Best Fans Award will be announced during the MFA Awards ceremony on May 24, 2019 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.