How Malta's player union turned medical screening into a player-focused programme

• Malta Football Players Association coordinated and funded pre-season medical screenings for 367 players from 21 teams
• The initiative introduced a consistent screening framework across Malta’s men’s second tier and women’s top flight
• Players also took part in 19 educational sessions covering health, rights, welfare and career development

The Malta Football Players Association (MFPA) introduced a centrally coordinated medical screening programme for players in the country’s men’s second tier and women’s top division.

A total of 367 players from 21 teams – 16 from the BOV Challenge League and five from the Assikura Women’s League – underwent pre-season medical examinations under the same coordinated framework for the first time.

Fully funded and organised by the MFPA, the initiative was designed to provide greater consistency in medical screening, identify potential health risks and simplify the process for clubs and medical professionals.

It also provided the union with an important opportunity to engage directly with players and offer information and education on their health, rights and careers.

“For professional footballers, a pre-season medical examination should be more than an administrative requirement,” said MFPA General Secretary Carlo Mamo.

“It is an opportunity to identify potential health risks, help players better understand their bodies and ensure they start the season with greater awareness of their health.”

The programme was delivered over several weeks between June and August and was coordinated entirely by the MFPA.

“We are pleased that the collective effort behind the programme generated such positive feedback from players, clubs, medical professionals and the Malta FA,” Mamo added.

Creating consistency across teams

Before the programme was introduced, mandatory medical examinations were carried out under different arrangements, resulting in variations in the screening process.

The MFPA identified the need for a more structured approach and introduced a centrally coordinated system to ensure greater consistency across all participating teams.

Players attended scheduled appointments at the former National Teams Clinic at Malta’s National Stadium, which was made available by the Malta Football Association.

The examinations were aimed at identifying potential health issues and risk factors ahead of the new season, while encouraging a more proactive approach to player health.

Former Malta international Paul Fenech said: “The whole process was very professional and well organised. As players, we can sometimes see medical screening as something that simply needs to be completed before the season, but this felt much more structured.”

A simpler digital process

The MFPA complemented the screenings by developing a dedicated digital platform for the programme.

Previously, doctors completed paper forms that club administrators would then scan and upload manually. Under the new system, medical documentation and electrocardiogram results could be processed and shared electronically.

“Digitalising the documentation helped us make the process quicker and more efficient, while reducing the administrative burden on doctors and clubs,” said Mamo.

The system also allowed the MFPA to maintain a more structured overview of the screening process across participating clubs.

Larkin Bonnici, President of Fgura United FC, said the centralised approach also brought clear benefits for clubs. Bonnici said: “From a club’s perspective, the programme made the whole medical screening process much easier to manage. Having everything coordinated centrally by the MFPA reduced the administrative work and costs for clubs, while giving us confidence that our players were going through a professional and consistent screening process.

“It was a very practical initiative and a good example of how cooperation between the players’ union, clubs and the Malta FA can benefit everyone involved.”

Turning medical appointments into learning opportunities

The MFPA also used the programme to provide support beyond the medical examinations.

A total of 19 educational sessions were delivered by specialists in areas relevant to players’ health, rights, careers and personal development.

Topics included safeguarding, nutrition, mental health, financial literacy, player rights and obligations, anti-doping, match-fixing, injury prevention, first aid and dealing with the media.

The Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport supported the programme by providing experts for the anti-doping and match-fixing sessions.

“By bringing medical screening and education together, we were able to connect directly with hundreds of players and provide practical information that can help them both on and off the pitch,” said Mamo.

Malta women’s national team captain Emma Lipman said: “The educational sessions were a very useful part of the programme because they covered areas that can have a real impact on players, both during their careers and beyond football.”

Strengthening direct engagement with players

Beyond the medical and educational benefits, the programme also created a valuable opportunity for the MFPA to strengthen its direct relationship with players.

By meeting players during the screening process, the union was able to explain its services, listen to player concerns and ensure that players knew where to seek support when needed.

The initiative also strengthened cooperation between the MFPA, participating clubs, medical professionals and the national federation.

“Now that the programme has concluded, we will assess its impact and look at how we can develop it further next year,” Mamo said.

“The initiative reflects one of our key priorities: protecting players’ health and well-being while remaining close to the players we represent.”