Birzebbuga St Peter’s FC say investor Seventy7 Sports has failed to meet its financial commitments under an agreement reached in May 2026, leaving a cloud of uncertainty over the newly promoted Maltese Premier League club.
In a public statement released on 20 October, the club said the company had “failed to fulfil its financial obligations” and had fallen “significantly short” of what was promised in the May deal. The statement was first published by Malta Sport and later reported by MaltaFootball.com.
Club officials said they are now working to protect players, committee members, supporters and other stakeholders. On the advice of its lawyers, the club added that it would limit further public comment while it handles the situation.
While the statement sets out the club’s stance on the dispute, it leaves several major questions open. Birzebbuga St Peter’s did not reveal how much money was originally promised, how much has been paid so far or how much remains unpaid. The club also did not state whether players, staff or suppliers have gone unpaid, or whether any legal action has begun.
Investment deal under scrutiny
The dispute comes just months after Seventy7 Sports announced in April that it had bought an 80 per cent stake in the club’s operating company. At the time, the deal was presented as a long-term plan to grow the club’s commercial side following its promotion to Malta’s top flight.
According to Malta Sport, businessman Ketan Makwana joined the project in 2026 and was expected to provide roughly 80 per cent of the club’s financial backing. Company records cited by the publication show an 80 per cent shareholding in BSPFC Ltd, with Joseph Fenech holding the remaining 20 per cent.
However, owning an 80 per cent share in a company does not automatically mean an investor has a legal duty to pay 80 per cent of its running costs. Because the contract itself has not been made public, the exact funding terms remain unknown.
Malta Sport also reported that Makwana handed a seven-page document to the club’s executive committee admitting to financial troubles and outlining talks with two potential outside lenders.
According to that report, the document noted that the outside money could not be treated as guaranteed until contracts were signed and the funds actually arrived. That document has not been independently verified for this article, meaning any talk of rescue funding remains unconfirmed.
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Malta FA raises questions over regulatory framework
The fallout at Birzebbuga St Peter’s has also turned a spotlight on Malta’s new legal setup for sports clubs that run as businesses.
On 10 April, the government published Legal Notice 91 of 2026, formally titled the Sports Private Limited Liability Companies Regulations, in Malta’s Government Gazette. The rules allow sports clubs to operate through dedicated commercial companies. When the law passed, the Malta Football Association welcomed the move in a statement on the association’s website, saying it would help clubs build lasting financial stability.
On 22 October, Malta FA senior vice-president Matthew Paris told the Times of Malta that the commercial deal at Birzebbuga St Peter’s had not gone through this new regulatory process.
Paris explained that the framework requires background checks by both the Malta FA and the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport, known as AIMS. It also forces investors to put down advance deposits to cover wages and sets clear rules on who is responsible for ongoing debts. Paris argued that using these rules would have given the club much stronger protection.
Even so, not using the new framework does not by itself prove that the club or the investor broke the law. Only a full review of the investment contract and company filings would show how the deal was structured and what legal safeguards apply.
Investor’s position and club’s finances remain unclear
Malta Sport reported that it sent questions to both Makwana and the club secretary asking about the promised funding, unpaid bills and possible outside loans. According to the publication, Makwana had not replied to those questions at the time of its report.
With no verified financial breakdown available, the full scale of the problem at Birzebbuga St Peter’s is still unclear. No independent evidence has surfaced to show that the club has missed payments to its players or suppliers, and the club has not announced any new funding agreement or settlement.
For now, the only confirmed fact is the club’s public claim that Seventy7 Sports failed to deliver the money it promised. How big the funding gap actually is, and what it means for the club’s immediate future, will depend on contractual details that have yet to be made public.
