2020–21_Maltese_Premier_League
2020–21 Maltese Premier League
Football league season
The 2020–21 Maltese Premier League was the 106th season of the Maltese Premier League, the top-flight league football in Malta. Floriana were the defending champions, having won their 26th title the previous season.
Quick Facts Season, Dates ...
| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 11 September 2020 – 9 April 2021 |
| Champions | Ħamrun Spartans (8th title) |
| Relegated | Żejtun Tarxien Lija Senglea Athletic |
| Champions League | Hibernians |
| Europa Conference League | Gżira Birkirkara Mosta |
| Matches played | 184 |
| Goals scored | 552 (3 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Kevin Rosero (17)[1] |
| Biggest home win | Hibernians 8–1 Lija Athletic (25 October 2020) St. Lucia 7-0 Tarxien Rainbows (13 February 2021) |
| Biggest away win | Senglea Athletic 0–5 Tarxien Rainbows (24 October 2020) |
| Highest scoring | Hibernians 8–1 Lija Athletic (25 October 2020) |
| Longest winning run | 6 matches Gżira United |
| Longest unbeaten run | 13 matches Ħamrun Spartans |
| Longest winless run | 18 matches Senglea Athletics |
| Longest losing run | 9 matches Senglea Athletics |
| Highest attendance | N/A |
| Lowest attendance | N/A |
← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
Close
On 10 March 2021, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malta, a decision was made by the Government of Malta to suspend all football activities in Malta for one month.[2]
On 9 April, the season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Malta.[3] Hamrun Spartans, who were top of the table at the time of the season's suspension, were declared the champions. Their first league title in exactly 30 years.[4]
Sixteen teams will compete in the league which will include the two teams promoted from the First Division. The promoted teams are Żejtun Corinthians, who will be playing their first season in the top division, and Lija Athetlic.
More information Team, In league since ...
| Team | In league since | City | Training Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balzan | 2011 | Balzan | St. Aloysius Sports and Recreational Complex | 100 |
| Birkirkara | 1990 | Birkirkara | Mgarr Ground | |
| Floriana | 1986 | Floriana | Independence Arena | |
| Gudja United | 2019 | Gudja | Louis Azzopardi Stadium | |
| Gżira United | 2016 | Gżira | Gzira Football Ground | |
| Ħamrun Spartans | 2016 | Ħamrun | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 6,000 |
| Hibernians | 1945 | Paola | Hibernians Ground | 2,968 |
| Lija Athletic | 2020 | Lija | Lija Stadium | 500 |
| Mosta | 2011 | Mosta | Charles Abela Memorial Stadium | 600 |
| St. Lucia | 2019 | Santa Luċija | Grawnd Santa Luċija | |
| Senglea Athletic | 2017 | Senglea | Corradino C | 100 |
| Sirens | 2019 | St. Paul's Bay | Sirens Stadium | 600 |
| Sliema Wanderers | 1984 | Sliema | Tigne Sports Complex | 1,000 |
| Tarxien Rainbows | 2008 | Tarxien | Tony Cassar Sports Ground | 1,000 |
| Valletta | 1944 | Valletta | Sirens Stadium | 600 |
| Żejtun Corinthians | 2020 | Żejtun | ||
Close
More information Ta' Qali, Paola ...
| Ta' Qali | Ta' Qali | Paola | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ta' Qali National Stadium | Centenary Stadium | Tony Bezzina Stadium | |
| Capacity: 16,997 | Capacity: 3,000 | Capacity: 2,968 | |
Close
Personnel and kits
More information Team, Manager ...
| Team | Manager | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balzan |  Mark Miller |
Joma | Investors Mutual Limited |
| Birkirkara |  André Paus |
Adidas | McDonald's |
| Floriana |  John Buttigieg |
Joma | Scotts Supermarket, Boggi |
| Gudja United | Cyril Buttigieg |
Givova | All Nuts, Emilio Bilocca Handy Man |
| Gżira United | Darren Abdilla |
Puma | |
| Ħamrun Spartans | Mark Buttigieg |
Puma | J. Portelli Projects |
| Hibernians |  Stefano Sanderra |
Joma | Bezzina |
| Lija Athletic | Joseph Galea |
Macron | The Falzon Group Of Companies |
| Mosta |  Davor Filipović |
Macron | Dimbros, Nilmar |
| Senglea Athletic | Clive Mizzi |
Givova | Palumbo |
| Sirens | Giovanni Tedesco |
Macron | Teamsport, Gillieru Harbour Hotel, Valyou Supermarket |
| Sliema Wanderers | Andrea Pisanu |
Jartazi | Catco Capital Investment, Catco Group Holding, Sixt, Sharjah |
| St. Lucia | Oliver Spiteri |
Macron | Multivend |
| Tarxien Rainbows | Winston Muscat |
Erreà | Cassar Ship Repairs |
| Valletta |  Cardoso Mendes |
Puma | Iniala |
| Żejtun Corinthians |  Orosco Anonam |
Adidas |
Close
Managerial changes
More information Team, Outgoing manager ...
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarxien Rainbows | Demis Paul Scerri |
Resign | 21 May 2020[5] | Pre-season | Winston Muscat |
12 June 2020[6] |
| Gudja United | Josef Mansueto |
21 May 2020[5] | Jesmond Zammit |
16 June 2020[7] | ||
| Gżira United | Paul Zammit |
29 May 2020[8] | Darren Abdilla |
24 June 2020[9] | ||
| Valletta | Giovanni Tedesco |
13 June 2020[10] | Jesmond Zerafa |
18 June 2020[11] | ||
| Mosta | Mark Miller |
Mutual consent | 16 June 2020[12] | Davor Filipović |
21 June 2020[13] | |
| Balzan | Ludvig Bartolo |
End of caretaker | 22 June 2020[14] | Mark Miller |
22 June 2020[14] | |
| Valletta | Jesmond Zerafa |
Resign | 30 November 2020 | 9th | Cardoso Mendes |
28 December 2020 |
| Sirens | Steve D'Amato |
Sacked | 14 December 2020 | 11th | Giovanni Tedesco |
14 December 2020 |
| Floriana | Vincenzo Potenza |
Resign | 24 December 2020 | 10th | John Buttigieg |
25 December 2020 |
Close
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ħamrun Spartans[lower-alpha 1] (C) | 23 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 56 | 20 | +36 | 56 | |
| 2 | Hibernians | 23 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 53 | 20 | +33 | 51 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 3 | Gżira United | 23 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 49 | 21 | +28 | 46 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Birkirkara | 23 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 45 | 25 | +20 | 44 | |
| 5 | Sliema Wanderers[lower-alpha 2] | 23 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 39 | 31 | +8 | 40 | |
| 6 | Mosta | 23 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 41 | 36 | +5 | 36 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round |
| 7 | Valletta | 23 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 35 | −8 | 33 | |
| 8 | St. Lucia | 23 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 38 | 35 | +3 | 29 | |
| 9 | Sirens | 23 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 27 | 35 | −8 | 28 | |
| 10 | Balzan | 23 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 31 | 29 | +2 | 27 | |
| 11 | Gudja United | 23 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 29 | 35 | −6 | 27 | |
| 12 | Floriana | 23 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 34 | −8 | 27 | |
| 13 | Żejtun Corinthians (R) | 23 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 28 | 40 | −12 | 24 | Relegation to the 2021–22 Maltese Challenge League |
| 14 | Tarxien Rainbows (R) | 23 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 25 | 48 | −23 | 21 | |
| 15 | Lija Athetlic (R) | 23 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 25 | 46 | −21 | 20 | |
| 16 | Senglea Athletic (R) | 23 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 13 | 62 | −49 | 2 |
Close
Source: Malta Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
More information Home \ Away, BAL ...
| Home \ Away | BAL | BIR | FLO | GUD | GZI | HAM | HIB | LIJ | MOS | SEN | SIR | SLI | SLC | TAR | VAL | ZEJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balzan | — | — | 0–0 | — | 0–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 |
| Birkirkara | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 4–1 | 0–3 | — | — | 1–2 | — | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 |
| Floriana | 0–0 | 2–5 | — | 1–0 | 2–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | — | — | 0–0 |
| Gudja United | 3–2 | — | 1–2 | — | 0–3[lower-alpha 1] | 0–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 0–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| Gżira United | — | — | 4–1 | — | — | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 6–1 | 4–0 | — | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Ħamrun Spartans | 3–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–0 | — | 3–1 | 3–0 | 5–1 | — | 2–2 | 5–0 | — | 4–0 |
| Hibernians | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | — | — | 2–2 | — | 8–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| Lija Athetlic | 1–1 | 0–0 | — | 0–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 0–5 | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | — |
| Mosta | 3–3 | 0–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–2 | — | 2–3 | — | — | 5–1 | 0–0 | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 |
| Senglea Athletic | — | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 0–1 | 0–2 | — | 0–5 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Sirens | — | 2–4 | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | 0–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | — | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–4 |
| Sliema Wanderers | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | — | — | — |
| St. Lucia | — | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | — | 1–4 | 0–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | — | 0–1 | — | 7–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Tarxien Rainbows | 0–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | — | 0–1 | — | — | 4–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | — | 3–1 | — |
| Valletta | 1–0 | 4–2 | 0–3 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–4 | — | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | — | — | 2–1 |
| Żejtun Corinthians | 0–0 | 0–3 | — | 0–1 | 0–4 | — | 2–3 | 2–0 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — |
Close
Source: Malta Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
Notes:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
Notes:
- Gżira United were awarded a 3–0 win after the Malta Football Association's Protests Board upheld their protest. Originally, the match ended in a 1–1 draw.[17]
Top goalscorers
- As of 10 March 2021
More information Rank, Player ...
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[18] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Kevin Rosero |
St. Lucia | 17 |
| 2 |  Bojan Kaljević |
Mosta | 14 |
| 3 |  Dodô |
Ħamrun Spartans | 13 |
| Luke Montebello |
Birkirkara | ||
| Franklin Sasere |
Ħamrun Spartans | ||
| 6 | Jean Paul Farrugia |
Sliema Wanderers | 12 |
| Jake Grech |
Hibernians | ||
| 8 | Jurgen Degabriele |
Hibernians | 11 |
 Maxuell |
Gżira United | ||
| 10 | Yuri |
Gudja United | 10 |
 Vito Plut |
Tarxien Rainbows |
Close
Red Cards
More information Rank, Club ...
| Rank | Club | Most Red Cards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gżira United | 7 |
| 2 | Senglea Athletic | 6 |
| Sirens | ||
| Valletta | ||
| 5 | Sliema Wanderers | 5 |
| Żejtun Corinthians | ||
| 7 | Balzan | 4 |
| St. Lucia | ||
| 9 | Gudja United | 3 |
| Mosta | ||
| 11 | Birkirkara | 2 |
| Floriana | ||
| Ħamrun Spartans | ||
| Hibernians | ||
| Lija Athletic |
Close
- "BOV Premier League". Malta Football Association. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- "Football competitions suspended until 11th April, 2021". Malta Football Association. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- "Sports ban forces termination of domestic competitions". MFA. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- "Ħamrun Spartans declared champions as MFA halts Premier League". Times of Malta. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- Farrugia, Jordi (21 May 2020). "Josef Mansueto u Demis Paul Scerri jħallu lil Gudja United u Tarxien Rainbows rispettivament" (in Maltese). Net News. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- "Muscat takes over at Tarxien Rainbows". Times of Malta. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- Camilleri, Valhmor (16 June 2020). "Zammit to take over at Gudja United". Times of Malta. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- Camilleri, Valhmor (29 May 2020). "Zammit leaves Gżira United". Times of Malta. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- "Darren Abdilla re-appointed Gzira United coach". MaltaFootball.com. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- Camilleri, Valhmor (13 June 2020). "Tedesco parts way with Valletta". Times of Malta. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- "Valletta FC appoint Jesmond Zerafa as their new coach". Valletta F.C. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- "Mark Miller no longer Mosta FC coach". MaltaFootball.com. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- Camilleri, Valhmor (21 June 2020). "Filipovic named new Mosta coach". Times of Malta. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- Camilleri, Valhmor (22 June 2020). "Miller named as new Balzan coach". Times of Malta. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- "UEFA board turns down Ħamrun Spartans' appeal to compete in 2021-22 Champions League". Sportsdesk.com.mt. Times of Malta. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- "Hamrun Spartans to be excluded from Champions League by UEFA over past match fixing case". Malta Independent. 9 June 2021.
- "Malta FA Protests Board decision". Malta Football Association. 11 February 2021. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- Official website Archived 14 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine