Malta Premier League Chairman Joseph Muscat has distanced the league from the controversial agreement between the Malta Football Association (MFA) and ARUC, stressing that the Premier League had no role in the initiative.The scheme will allow around 160 children to receive up to €250 each to help cover the cost of practising sport. ARUC will fund 75% of the initiative, while the MFA will cover the remaining 25%.When asked whether ARUC should have been the body sponsoring football nurseries, especially given cannabis’ link to anti-doping concerns in sport, Muscat said he saw the agreement mainly as an educational measure.“I understood it… as part of education,” he said, adding that he does not consider it “something positive,” he told Newsbook MaltaMuscat repeatedly made it clear that the Malta Premier League was not involved in the deal.“The Malta Premier’s stand is that we are not part of it,” he said.He suggested the MFA and ARUC were likely trying to use sport as a way to educate young people and encourage them to stay away from harmful habits, including drugs.“I see that ARUC’s and the MFA’s thinking was that you educate people that ideally you don’t use these types of drugs,” he said, while noting he did not believe there had been any discussion about changing anti-doping regulations.The agreement was announced as part of ARUC’s wider mission to promote sport and social activity as healthier alternatives for youths.Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg said the initiative supports ARUC’s aim of steering young people away from various vices, including drugs.Meanwhile, ARUC CEO Joey Reno Vella said the authority is putting its message into practice by supporting healthier choices over cannabis use.While Muscat did not fully endorse the initiative, he stopped short of outright condemning it, saying the matter is ultimately one of perspective.What do you think?Footage: Newsbook Malta•