National disability commission files judicial protest against Football Association

The Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b'Diżabilità (KNPD) has filed a judicial protest against the Malta Football Association (MFA) for failing to provide adequate access to the Ta' Qali national stadium's enclosure side.

KNPD, which is the national watchdog against discrimination against the disabled, said that it had received numerous complaints about the lack of accessibility for persons with disability in the stadium's Enclosure Side, even though it is a public building.

It also complained that MFA failed to explain its shortcomings, or to take remedial action to improve the accessibility to the national stadium's most commonly used entrance even despite an on-site visit during which practical and reasonable remedial actions were discussed.

"KNPD acknowledges the fact that the stadium's Millennium Stand is fully accessible, however, it is hardly ever opened for the local top flight games. In fact, given the attendance for local games, the older Enclosure Side is used to host both sets of supporters as well as the VIP stand. This part of the stadium is older than the Millennium Stand and its entrance, stands and facilities are not accessible for persons with restricted mobility," the KNPD said in its protest.

The commission has set a seven-day deadline by when it is expecting MFA to explain its position and further explain how it intends to make the Enclosure Side fully accessible within a reasonable time-frame.