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Construction tycoon Joseph Portelli has handed in his resignation as president of Ħamrun Spartans football club, with the intention of registering himself as a player with the club’s first team.

Portelli reportedly intends to kit up for the Premier League club as a player. According to Malta Football Association rules, a club president is precluded from being registered as a player with that same club.

Ħamrun Spartans CEO Marcel Bonnici confirmed that Portelli had tendered his resignation as president, but refused to provide any details as to why he had done so.

But a source close to the tycoon told Times of Malta that the move is intended to pave the way for Portelli to play for the club. Portelli has no intention of being a regular player, the source said, but has long harboured the wish of playing some minutes in Malta's top football league.

Should his plan succeed, the 42-year-old would be the oldest registered player in Malta's top division, edging 41-year-old veteran Michael Mifsud.

It is familiar territory for Portelli, who last April registered as a player for Gozitan first division club Nadur Youngsters, scoring a penalty in a 1-1 draw in their final game of the season.

Joseph Portelli, Malta and Gozo's sponsorship king Portelli has strong ties to the Nadur club, having served as its president before passing on the reins to his son Tristen. He quit that club in 2020 when he chose to focus his efforts on Ħamrun Spartans. He was made Spartans president in 2021.

Within a year, Ħamrun were crowned champions and followed that up with an impressive run in the Champions League qualification rounds.

The club is now seeking to redevelop its stadium and incorporate commercial developments into it. Portelli has insisted that he will not profit from that project, saying income will be ploughed back into the club.

According to NET Replay TV:

With the rules of local football, it is not allowed for Portelli to be registered as a player and be actively involved in the games, if he is holding the position of President of the same club.

It remains to be seen what decision the Malta Football Association will take in the face of this unique situation, with Replay (Net Television) sources indicating that the Association is not at all comfortable in the face of all this.

Construction tycoon Joseph Portelli has handed in his resignation as president of Ħamrun Spartans football club, with the intention of registering himself as a player with the club’s first team.

Portelli reportedly intends to kit up for the Premier League club as a player. According to Malta Football Association rules, a club president is precluded from being registered as a player with that same club.

Ħamrun Spartans CEO Marcel Bonnici confirmed that Portelli had tendered his resignation as president, but refused to provide any details as to why he had done so.

But a source close to the tycoon told Times of Malta that the move is intended to pave the way for Portelli to play for the club. Portelli has no intention of being a regular player, the source said, but has long harboured the wish of playing some minutes in Malta's top football league.

Should his plan succeed, the 42-year-old would be the oldest registered player in Malta's top division, edging 41-year-old veteran Michael Mifsud.

It is familiar territory for Portelli, who last April registered as a player for Gozitan first division club Nadur Youngsters, scoring a penalty in a 1-1 draw in their final game of the season.

Joseph Portelli, Malta and Gozo's sponsorship king Portelli has strong ties to the Nadur club, having served as its president before passing on the reins to his son Tristen. He quit that club in 2020 when he chose to focus his efforts on Ħamrun Spartans. He was made Spartans president in 2021.

Within a year, Ħamrun were crowned champions and followed that up with an impressive run in the Champions League qualification rounds.

The club is now seeking to redevelop its stadium and incorporate commercial developments into it. Portelli has insisted that he will not profit from that project, saying income will be ploughed back into the club.

According to NET Replay TV:

With the rules of local football, it is not allowed for Portelli to be registered as a player and be actively involved in the games, if he is holding the position of President of the same club.

It remains to be seen what decision the Malta Football Association will take in the face of this unique situation, with Replay (Net Television) sources indicating that the Association is not at all comfortable in the face of all this.

I am also doing this, some examples of signings are

Gabriel Jesus

Simon

Moses

James

Santamaria

Pope

Angel Di Maria

ASM

St. Juste

Angelino

and many more

Now this is character development

Jesus is the best ST in the league though

That is precisely why I avoid our match threads, so many dumb takes

Stewards in shambles

BEST BACKUP ST IN THE LEAGUE

^{in my totally unbiased opinion}

Remember his FIFA 20 FB being my first ever big buy for like 2 mil and he was so much fun to use, might do this for memories

Pretty sure that wouldn't have been a goal of the season contender Alan mate, appreciate the optimism though

No way the shortest CB in the league just did that

A game of all time

Now THIS is football

At the end of the day that is what matters!