Valletta FC has issued a statement in response to comments made by Momentum Chairperson Arnold Cassola regarding the club’s proposed football ground project.“It is profoundly disappointing to see this historic step for Valletta FC reduced to tribal political rhetoric and rampant prejudice against our community by the Chairperson of Momentum, Arnold Cassola,” the club said.The club stated that by publicly framing the project in partisan terms, Momentum has “effectively taken a position against Valletta FC securing its long-overdue home” without understanding the context or substance of the proposal.It added that suggesting the outcome was driven by political party considerations is “not only inaccurate; it is offensive to the thousands of families who have endured more than two decades of structural disadvantage while other clubs benefitted from facilities and access to public land.”Valletta FC said it would be expected that a political party chairperson verifies facts before making such statements, rather than relying on “narratives that are rooted in long-standing prejudice towards Valletta and its community.” It also described it as “insulting for a political party to foment misinformation and weaponise genuine interest against the Valletta FC community.”The club outlined the history of its proposed facilities, stating that Valletta FC was first allocated land in Ħal Farruġ, Luqa in 2012. After investing time and resources in the planning process, it was later informed the development could not proceed as the site had been earmarked for other uses.The statement continued that eight years later the land was taken back by government, and in 2020 the club was allocated a second site in Luqa, a former dumping ground, with a commitment that it would be made suitable for development. However, once the scale and cost of remediation became clear, the project was ultimately abandoned.Valletta FC said that for over 25 years its children have trained without a proper football home, with parents making sacrifices and generations carrying uncertainty. It stressed that the current project is about “correcting that injustice” and restoring fairness, parity and dignity, and not political affiliation.The club added that it is a community bringing together children from all backgrounds, where football represents structure, discipline and opportunity. It warned against narratives that could create barriers to that opportunity, stating: “Unfortunately, for Momentum, these are children of a lesser God.”Valletta FC said its 27,000 families understand what the moment represents and appreciate both the Government’s commitment and the Opposition’s support in a spirit of unity. It added that they also understand “who is standing for fairness- and who has chosen to stand against it.”The club concluded that it will continue to move forward with responsibility, inclusivity and respect towards all stakeholders, including families in Pembroke whose children would benefit from the proposed football campus.It said it will not allow children’s dreams to be diminished or drawn into partisan agendas, noting the unanimous backing of the project in Parliament.What do you make of this?•