Club Statement

Club Statement

Victoria Hotspurs FC warmly congratulate the Malta Football Association and UEFA for the ‘Stop the Hate’ campaign. This initiative is an extremely important campaign to educate all stakeholders in the football world – committe members, supporters, coaches, staff and players – that all sorts of hatred should be kicked out of the game once and for all.

It is with utmost sadness that we have to report that in a number of games throughout our MFA National Amateur League 2 experience, our Gozitan players have been verbally abused by players of the opposing team only because they are Gozitans. This abuse has come from a very small number of players and in no way are we implying that the Club they represent condones this behavior. We can vouch that verbal abuse does indeed take place against our players only because they are born in Gozo. It is unbelievable that certain players resort to this language and behavior. Victoria Hotspurs management has always advised its players to ignore such pitiful behavior and to continue concentrating on the field of play. However, we also believe that the hatred of a few players is ruining the spirit of our sport and is a true insult to our players and to Gozitans in general. From now onwards, if this abusive behavior continues, the team will immediately draw the attention of the referee to such episodes of hatred, abuse and racism, all put together. Victoria Hotspurs will then consider legal action against the player and his Club. Our message to those verbally abusive players is that Victoria Hotspurs is PROUD to be a Gozitan team and that they should be ashamed of themselves. Moreover, again in the context of The Stop the Hate campaign, the team’s captain Ferdinando Apap has throughout the season been targeted by a number of opposing players with unfounded, but damaging, allegations in his regards. Ferdinando never fell for these verbal provocations and his behavior has been exemplary both in and off the pitch throughout the season. The unfounded allegations that certain players throw towards Ferdinando only strengthen his resolve to remain one of the strongest defenders in all the Maltese leagues. Ferdinando Apap chose to play for Victoria Hotspurs in the lowest division out of pure love towards the Club in its path towards greater pastures in the Malta leagues. Yes, the Stop the Hate Campaign should also be directed towards these haters who verbally abuse Ferdinando during the games.

Victoria Hotspurs FC fully endorse the Stop the Hate Campaign