Malta Tourism Authority's Sponsorship of Joseph Portelli's Italian Football Club Questioned
· Updated
In brief
- The political party Momentum has questioned the Malta Tourism Authority's (MTA) sponsorship of an Italian football club recently acquired by Gozitan developer Joseph Portelli.
- The club, SPAL, plays in Italy's fifth-tier league, a significant change from VisitMalta's previous high-profile sponsorships.
- Momentum filed a Freedom of Information request to understand the decision behind sponsoring an amateur-league club.
The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), operating under the VisitMalta brand, has come under scrutiny for its sponsorship of an Italian football club recently acquired by Gozitan developer Joseph Portelli. The club, SPAL, currently plays in Italy's fifth-tier league.
The political party Momentum has formally questioned this decision, filing a Freedom of Information request with the MTA. Momentum seeks to understand the rationale behind sponsoring a club at this level, especially given its recent acquisition by Mr. Portelli.
This sponsorship marks a notable shift from VisitMalta's previous high-profile associations, such as its multi-million-euro partnership with global football giant Manchester United. The Shift News highlighted this change, noting the move from a top-tier club to an amateur-league team.
Newsbook also reported on Momentum's concerns, emphasising the party's query regarding the MTA's decision-making process for such sponsorships.
The Spin Room
Medium media divide. Newsbook focused on Momentum's formal questioning of the sponsorship, while The Shift News highlighted the significant change in VisitMalta's sponsorship strategy from a global club to an amateur-league team.
- Newsbook: Emphasised Momentum's formal query and the questioning of the MTA's decision.
- The Shift News: Focused on the contrast between VisitMalta's past high-profile sponsorships and the current one with an amateur-league club, linking it to Joseph Portelli.
Updates
- : Updated with further reporting from MaltaToday and The Malta Independent on Momentum's calls for transparency over the sponsorship deal.