The 2020/21 BOV Premier league kicks off on September 19. The fixtures of the opening three matchdays of the 2020/21 BOV Premier League have been issued.

Given the fluctuating situation due to COVID-19, the Malta FA has published the domestic fixtures leading up to the October international window. The BOV Premier League gets underway on September 19 and the BOV Challenge League (formerly the First Division) starts on September 25. Matches are to be played behind closed doors until further notice.

The first match will kick-off at 17.00hrs and the second at 21.15hrs to allow sufficient time for the sanitisation of the dressing rooms and restricted areas between matches. Matchday two of the BOV Premier League will take place from September 25-27 and matchday three from September 30-October 1.

NEW REGULATIONS

Based on this situation and the unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Malta FA Executive Committee has approved a set of special regulations applicable to the BOV Premier League and BOV Challenge League.

• Clubs are required to submit a squad list of a minimum of 25 players.

• A competitive match can only be postponed if a team doesn’t have a minimum of 16 players, including two goalkeepers, available from the squad list who are tested negative.

• Extension of five substitutions in all categories (three substitution time windows, teams may additionally make substitutions at half-time).

• Where a player, coach, club staff member or club committee member tests positive for COVID-19, or is otherwise ordered by the national health authorities to self-isolate, the person is obliged to disclose the matter to the club. Failure to do so constitutes an offence.

 • A player who is ordered to self-isolate on matchday would be considered ineligible and if fielded, the player and the club will incur disciplinary sanctions.