Vassallo elected President of the Malta Football Association

Bjorn Vassallo has been elected President of the Malta Football Association at the Annual General Meeting, held today at the Grand Hotel Excelsior. The 39-year-old obtained 83 of the 137 votes cast, against the 54 votes for Dr Chris Bonett, the other candidate in the presidential election. “I’m honoured that this AGM has elected me as President of the largest sports organisation in the country,” Vassallo said at the conclusion of the AGM. “I want to thank those who supported me with their vote as well as those who had a different opinion. “Thanks for making this AGM a mature one, a positive advert for Maltese football. “Football has won today. I’m a football person and you are all football people who give life to the game in the villages and towns. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Vassallo, who served as Chief Executive Officer and General Secetary of the Malta FA in the past, succeeds Norman Darmanin Demajo as Malta FA President after the latter decided to step down at the end of his third three-year term at the helm of the governing body of Maltese football. Darmanin Demajo had been voted in as President in 2010. DARMANIN DEMAJO TRIBUTEThe newly-elected Malta FA President paid tribute to Darmanin Demajo. “This journey started in 2006 when I approached Norman Darmanin Demajo to put himself forward for the Malta FA presidency,” Vassallo said. “We are now in 2019 and I want to thank Norman for his contribution and for always adhering to his sporting principles and values.” Vassallo also expressed his gratitude to Dr Chris Bonett, the other candidate for the Malta FA presidency, saying that the campaign was very intense on sporting aspects and ideas but “it was mature and we maintained a spirit of dialogue throughout”. Finally, Vassallo made an appeal for unity. “Every election brings divisions but afterwards, unity should be our top priority,” he said. “We can’t be fragmented as footballing family. From Monday, we need to work towards one aim... the progress of Maltese football.” Until recently, Vassallo held the post of FIFA Director for European Member Associations. His mandate as Malta FA Pesident runs until 2023  after the AGM approved a motion to extend the term of office of the top officials from three to four years. BJORN VASSALLO – BIOGRAPHYBjorn Vassallo, born on 20th January, 1980, has been involved in football administration since 1996, starting with San Ġwann FC. In 2010, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Football Association for three years and subsequently became General Secretary of the Association, a post he held until 2016 when he was appointed FIFA Director under the leadership of President Gianni Infantino. At FIFA, Vassallo was responsible for overseeing the needs of the 55 member associations of UEFA working directly with the associations on the governance and development of the game of football in Europe. During these last 10 years, he held various posts on the UEFA Player Status Committee and also the UEFA National Teams Competitions Committee. He was a Venue Director and Match Commissioner working in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League competitions. In 2016, he managed the venue in Nice at the EURO 2016 Championship as a Venue Delegate. He was also part of the FIFA team at the World Cup in Russia.