It was a whole new ball game for Michael Mifsud last Sunday, when the Malta international took time out from a busy goal-scoring schedule in the English first division to make a surprise appearance on the bench at the PN General Council in St Julian’s.
In the aftermath, Mifsud found himself questioned over his surprise presence before hundreds of PN councillors.
But the footballer has privately told friends he did not expect to be seated on the PN’s stage next to the prime minister’s wife and the PN secretary-general Joe Saliba.
MaltaToday yesterday contacted Saliba to ask him whether Mifsud had been specifically told he was about to be put on stage, seated in Lawrence Gonzi’s chair next to Kate Gonzi.
“He was informed he would attend a political activity organised by the PN,” Saliba said, although he stopped short of specifying whether Mifsud knew the activity was specifically the general council.
Repeatedly asked, Saliba would not confirm whether Mifsud was told he was about to be put on the general council stage in the seat of the Prime Minister while Lawrence Gonzi gave his rousing speech. He then said: “wouldn’t it be better to ask Mifsud himself.”
But the young star has shied away from the press after his presence at the council raised questions over whether he had been fully aware of the event in question. Saliba himself yesterday said he did not believe the general council was a “partisan” activity, but simply a “political one”.
Saliba said this was not the first time the PN had invited celebs to the general council, citing former national team coach Pippo Psaila who led one of the PN’s workshops. “It is not unique to Malta. The American presidential campaign regularly makes use of sporting stars and other celebrities.”
But Saliba denied having used Mifsud, who two weeks ago stunned British football when he knocked Manchester United out of the League Cup – and turning him into a national icon – for the PN’s political ends.
“What’s wrong with having someone like Mifsud, just because this happens to be a political activity? He was not used. The Prime Minister addressed him as an example of what a Maltese footballer can do on the international field, to laud him as a person of success.”
But in the unfamiliar setting of the highly charged PN general council, Mifsud appeared like a fish out of the water, clearly not expecting he was about to be placed on stage surrounded by dozens of Nationalist cheerleaders.
After the event, the footballer faced questions on One TV’s sports programme over his presence at the council, something Joe Saliba took issue with. “He was evidently being threatened, with the presenter answering questions for him.”
Saliba also claimed Mifsud had changed his travel plans to be in Malta on Sunday, whereas he was earlier on scheduled for arrival on Monday.
The Coventry player, who is in Malta to play for his country’s Euro ties against Hungary and Moldova, has so far refused to comment on the incident but declared his wish not to be involved in partisan politics. “I will accept invitations by the Prime Minister or Leader of the Opposition as they represent my country, but that is it,” Mifsud said.
Mifsud was reported to have been zipped off from Malta International Airport to the Eden Ice Arena where the general council was being held, expecting to meet the Prime Minister. Friends of the football star said Mifsud was not aware he would end up on stage at the general council.