2009–10 Maltese Premier League

The Maltese Premier League 2009–10 was the 95th season of the Maltese Premier League, the top-tier football league in Malta. Hibernians were the defending champions. The season began on 21 August 2009 and ended on 5 May 2010. It was won by Birkirkara, who became the league winners for the third time in their history.

Maltese Premier League
Season2009–10
ChampionsBirkirkara
(3rd title)
RelegatedMsida Saint-Joseph
Dingli Swallows
Champions LeagueBirkirkara
Europa LeagueValletta (via domestic cup)
Sliema Wanderers
Matches played132
Goals scored433 (3.28 per match)
Top goalscorer Camilo
(24 goals)
Biggest home winValletta 6–0 Floriana
Biggest away winDingli Swallows 0–6 Ħamrun Spartans
Highest scoringQormi 6–2 Floriana
Tarxien Rainbows 2–6 Valletta
Msida Saint-Joseph 3–5 Ħamrun Spartans

Promotion and relegation from 2008–09

Ħamrun Spartans were relegated to the First Division after finishing in last place of the relegation pool. They were joined by Msida Saint-Joseph, who lost a decision match against Tarxien Rainbows on penalties.

Promoted from the First Division were Dingli Swallows as champions and Vittoriosa Stars as runners-up. However, after playing one match in the Premier League, Vittoriosa Stars were relegated to the First Division due to a decision by the Board to Investigate Corrupt Practices. A month later, Marsaxlokk received the same punishment, immediate relegation to the First Division due to their involvement in a bribery scandal. Rather than continue the season with eight clubs, the Maltese FA declared that both the Premier League and First Division would be composed of 10 clubs each. In a meeting on 17 September 2009, it was decided that Msida Saint-Joseph and Ħamrun Spartans would play in the Premier League this season, despite both being relegated last season.

Training Grounds and Locations
Location of teams in 2009–10 Maltese Premier Division
Team City of Origin Ground City of Ground
Birkirkara Birkirkara Infetti Ground Birkirkara
Dingli Swallows Dingli Dingli Ground Dingli
Floriana Floriana Independence Arena Floriana
Hibernians Paola Hibernians Ground Paola
Ħamrun Spartans Hamrun Victor Tedesco Stadium Hamrun
Msida Saint-Joseph Msida Ħamrun Junior Lyceum Hamrun
Qormi Qormi Thomaso Grounds Qormi
Sliema Wanderers Sliema Tigné Point Sliema
Tarxien Rainbows Tarxien Tarxien Ground Tarxien
Valletta Valletta Salinos Ground Valletta

Competition modus

The Premier League consists of two rounds. In the First Round, every team will play each opponent twice, once home and once away, for a total of 18 games. The league will then be split in two pools. Earned points will be halved (rounded up if necessary). Teams that will finish in positions 1–6 compete in the "Championship Pool" and teams finishing in positions 7–10 play in the "Relegation Pool".

First round

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Valletta 18 12 4 2 45 15 +30 40 Qualification for the Championship pool
2 Birkirkara 18 12 3 3 40 18 +22 39
3 Qormi 18 11 2 5 37 22 +15 35
4 Sliema Wanderers 18 9 2 7 29 21 +8 29
5 Hibernians 18 7 6 5 31 28 +3 27
6 Tarxien Rainbows 18 7 5 6 30 29 +1 26
7 Floriana 18 6 5 7 23 35 −12 23 Qualification for the Relegation pool
8 Ħamrun Spartans 18 6 3 9 24 31 −7 21
9 Msida Saint-Joseph 18 3 2 13 12 34 −22 11
10 Dingli Swallows 18 1 0 17 13 51 −38 3
Source: kicker.de (in German)
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Note: Teams ranked 1 through 6 will qualify for the championship pool, teams ranked 7 through 10 play in the relegation pool. Earned points will be halved and taken over to the respective pools.

Results
Home \ Away BIR DIN FLO HIB HAM MSJ QOR SLI TAR VAL
Birkirkara — 2–0 0–1 2–2 2–1 4–1 2–0 0–1 5–1 1–3
Dingli Swallows 1–3 — 0–2 1–2 1–3 1–2 1–4 0–2 1–4 0–6
Floriana 1–2 1–2 — 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–4
Hibernians 2–2 2–1 2–3 — 4–2 3–0 2–2 0–1 0–1 2–4
Ħamrun Spartans 0–2 3–0 0–1 2–2 — 1–0 1–2 3–0 2–2 2–3
Msida Saint-Joseph 1–2 2–1 1–2 0–1 0–2 — 0–3 1–0 1–1 0–1
Qormi 2–5 4–0 6–2 3–1 2–0 3–0 — 1–0 0–2 0–2
Sliema Wanderers 0–3 3–1 3–0 2–2 5–0 2–0 1–2 — 4–2 0–1
Tarxien Rainbows 0–2 2–1 2–1 1–2 0–1 3–1 1–2 3–1 — 2–2
Valletta 1–1 4–1 6–0 0–1 4–0 0–0 1–0 1–3 2–2 —
Source: kicker.de (in German)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second round

Championship Pool
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation BIR VAL QOR SLI TAR HIB
1 Birkirkara (C) 28 20 4 4 64 32 +32 45 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round — 1–0 3–1 2–1 1–0 2–1
2 Valletta 28 20 4 4 71 25 +46 44 Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round[lower-alpha 1] 4–2 — 3–0 2–0 3–0 2–1
3 Qormi 28 15 2 11 53 36 +17 30 0–2 1–2 — 3–0 2–0 3–0
4 Sliema Wanderers 28 14 2 12 41 37 +4 30 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round 0–3 2–1 0–4 — 2–0 3–0
5 Tarxien Rainbows 28 10 6 12 41 50 −9 23 3–3 2–6 3–2 0–2 — 2–0
6 Hibernians 28 8 6 14 40 51 −11 17 4–5 1–3[lower-alpha 2] 1–0 1–2 0–1 —
Source: maltafootball.com, Maltese FA
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Points earned in the first round have been halved.
(C) Champion.
Notes:
  1. Valletta were the winners of the 2009–10 Maltese Cup competition and qualified for the second qualifying round of UEFA Europa League.
  2. Valletta were assigned as home team for both Championship Round matches against Hibernians for unknown reasons; this match was the latter of these two and has been put in this table cell for organisatorical reasons.

Europa league play-off

Due to finishing equal on points, Qormi and Sliema played a play-off match to determine Maltese second UEFA Europa League participant for the 2010–11 season.

Qormi0 – 2Sliema Wanderers
Dronca  51' (pen)
 90+5' (o.g.)
Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta' Qali

Relegation Pool
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Relegation FLO HAM DIN MSJ
7 Floriana 24 10 6 8 35 41 −6 25 — 1–0 4–2 2–1
8 Ħamrun Spartans 24 10 4 10 41 39 +2 24 2–1 — 2–1 2–2
9 Dingli Swallows (R) 24 2 0 22 23 71 −48 5 Relegation to the First Division 0–3 0–6 — 5–2
10 Msida Saint-Joseph[lower-alpha 1] (R) 24 4 4 16 24 51 −27 1 1–1 3–5 3–2 —
Source: maltafootball.com, maltafootball.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Points earned in the first round have been halved.
(R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Msida Saint-Joseph were docked 10 points for failing to honour payments to their former coach and a number of former players.[1]

Top scorers
Rank Scorer Club Goals[2]
1 Camilo Qormi 24
2 Terence Scerri Valletta 20
3 Ryan Darmanin Floriana 17
4 Sylvano Comvalius Birkirkara 15
Denni Tarxien Rainbows 15
Marcelo Pereira Ħamrun Spartans 15
7 Michael Galea Birkirkara 14
8 Josef Okonkwo Dingli Swallows 13
Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza Sliema Wanderers 13
10 Trevor Cilia Birkirkara 12
Alfred Effiong Qormi 12
Goals total 433
Matches total 132
Average per match 3.28
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References
  1. Floriana, Msida share spoils in draw - Spartans beat Swallows
  2. "Scorers". MaltaFootball.com.
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