Mauritius Football Association
Encyclopedia
The Mauritius Football Association (MFA) is the governing body of football
in Mauritius
. It was founded in 1952, affiliated to FIFA
in 1962 and to CAF
in 1963. The association was formerly known as the Mauritius Sports Association but renamed to Mauritius Football Association in 1984 through the introduction of a Sports Act by the government. The founding members of the association were FC Dodo, Faucon Flacq SC
(now renamed Flacq SC), CSC, Hounds, Royal College of Curepipe, and Saint Joseph College, all of which were based out of Curepipe
and, with the exception of Flacq SC
, have since ceased to exist. The Mauritius Football Association organizes the national football league
and the national team
.
in Mauritius
. Although football
continues to be the most popular sport in the country, the majority of domestic league matches attract very few spectators (sometimes less than a handful), earning the clubs and the MFA very little income and leaving the players without the motivation to showcase their skills. The focus of the sport's popularity has instead almost completely shifted to the English Premier League, which is considered far more exciting due to the high quality of football on display and the presence of numerous world-famous stars. National and International television network
s beam Premier League matches into the living rooms multiple times every week, adding to the erosion of interest in local football.
The decline in popularity of domestic football is also attributed to the Mauritian Premier League's
major restructuring prior to the 2000/2001 season. The restructuring was aimed at preventing the recurrence of the violent riots that rocked the country during the final match, the championship decider, of the Mauritian League
season on 23 May 1999 between Fire Brigade Sports Club
(now renamed as Pamplemousses SC
) and Scouts Club (renamed as Port Louis Sporting Club). A controversial penalty awarded to Fire Brigade SC
, a Creole
club, ensured their win over the Muslim
-supported Scouts Club, leading to riot
s that lasted for 3 days and killed 7 people. The events shook the nation and led to the government imposing an 18-month
ban on all footballing activities in the country, with only the national team
permitted to play during this period. The restructure, which was an effort to de-ethnicize local clubs, required the "regionalization" of clubs, with teams now being formed on the basis of region
instead of ethnicity or religion
. Although the move achieved the desired results in terms of reduction in violent conflicts, it also removed the traditional rivalry among fans, resulting in loss of interest and support. In fact, many locals believe that the resurrection of Mauritian
football lies in permitting the formation of clubs on the basis of ethnicity or religion.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
in Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. It was founded in 1952, affiliated to FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
in 1962 and to CAF
Confederation of African Football
The Confederation of African Football is the administrative and controlling body for African association football.CAF represents the national football associations of Africa, runs continental, national, and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those...
in 1963. The association was formerly known as the Mauritius Sports Association but renamed to Mauritius Football Association in 1984 through the introduction of a Sports Act by the government. The founding members of the association were FC Dodo, Faucon Flacq SC
Faucon Flacq SC
Faucon Flacq SC is a Mauritian football club based in Flacq. They play in the Mauritian League, the top division in Mauritian football.-Ground:Their home stadium is Stade Auguste Vollaire Faucon Flacq SC is a Mauritian football club based in Flacq. They play in the Mauritian League, the top...
(now renamed Flacq SC), CSC, Hounds, Royal College of Curepipe, and Saint Joseph College, all of which were based out of Curepipe
Curepipe
Curepipe is a town centrally situated in Mauritius, an island country in the southwest Indian Ocean. It is second in size and importance to Port Louis, the capital....
and, with the exception of Flacq SC
Faucon Flacq SC
Faucon Flacq SC is a Mauritian football club based in Flacq. They play in the Mauritian League, the top division in Mauritian football.-Ground:Their home stadium is Stade Auguste Vollaire Faucon Flacq SC is a Mauritian football club based in Flacq. They play in the Mauritian League, the top...
, have since ceased to exist. The Mauritius Football Association organizes the national football league
Mauritian League
Mauritian League is the top division of football in Mauritius, governed by the Mauritius Football Association since its establishment in 1935.-Barclays League - 2011 Clubs:* AS de Vacoas-Phoenix...
and the national team
Mauritius national football team
The Mauritius national football team, nicknamed Club M, is the national team of Mauritius and is controlled by the Mauritius Football Association.-Early years:...
.
Problems facing the MFA
The association has undergone numerous upheavals over the years, its troubles ranging from perpetual financial shortages to constant changes of presidents, and has been under fire from various quarters for failing to stem the decline of footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
in Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. Although football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
continues to be the most popular sport in the country, the majority of domestic league matches attract very few spectators (sometimes less than a handful), earning the clubs and the MFA very little income and leaving the players without the motivation to showcase their skills. The focus of the sport's popularity has instead almost completely shifted to the English Premier League, which is considered far more exciting due to the high quality of football on display and the presence of numerous world-famous stars. National and International television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
s beam Premier League matches into the living rooms multiple times every week, adding to the erosion of interest in local football.
The decline in popularity of domestic football is also attributed to the Mauritian Premier League's
Mauritian League
Mauritian League is the top division of football in Mauritius, governed by the Mauritius Football Association since its establishment in 1935.-Barclays League - 2011 Clubs:* AS de Vacoas-Phoenix...
major restructuring prior to the 2000/2001 season. The restructuring was aimed at preventing the recurrence of the violent riots that rocked the country during the final match, the championship decider, of the Mauritian League
Mauritian League
Mauritian League is the top division of football in Mauritius, governed by the Mauritius Football Association since its establishment in 1935.-Barclays League - 2011 Clubs:* AS de Vacoas-Phoenix...
season on 23 May 1999 between Fire Brigade Sports Club
Fire Brigade SC
Fire Brigade SC is the most successful club in Mauritius with 13 league titles, 12 Mauritian cups and 3 Republic cups. There was a great rivalry between Sunrise Flacq United and Fire Brigade SC...
(now renamed as Pamplemousses SC
Pamplemousses SC
Pamplemousses SC is a Mauritian football club based in Belle Vue. They play in the top division in Mauritian football.-Ground:Their home stadium is Stade Anjalay Pamplemousses SC (literally, Grapefruit SC) is a Mauritian football club based in Belle Vue. They play in the top division in Mauritian...
) and Scouts Club (renamed as Port Louis Sporting Club). A controversial penalty awarded to Fire Brigade SC
Fire Brigade SC
Fire Brigade SC is the most successful club in Mauritius with 13 league titles, 12 Mauritian cups and 3 Republic cups. There was a great rivalry between Sunrise Flacq United and Fire Brigade SC...
, a Creole
Creole peoples
The term Creole and its cognates in other languages — such as crioulo, criollo, créole, kriolu, criol, kreyol, kreol, kriulo, kriol, krio, etc. — have been applied to people in different countries and epochs, with rather different meanings...
club, ensured their win over the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
-supported Scouts Club, leading to riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
s that lasted for 3 days and killed 7 people. The events shook the nation and led to the government imposing an 18-month
Month
A month is a unit of time, used with calendars, which was first used and invented in Mesopotamia, as a natural period related to the motion of the Moon; month and Moon are cognates. The traditional concept arose with the cycle of moon phases; such months are synodic months and last approximately...
ban on all footballing activities in the country, with only the national team
Mauritius national football team
The Mauritius national football team, nicknamed Club M, is the national team of Mauritius and is controlled by the Mauritius Football Association.-Early years:...
permitted to play during this period. The restructure, which was an effort to de-ethnicize local clubs, required the "regionalization" of clubs, with teams now being formed on the basis of region
Region
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
instead of ethnicity or religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
. Although the move achieved the desired results in terms of reduction in violent conflicts, it also removed the traditional rivalry among fans, resulting in loss of interest and support. In fact, many locals believe that the resurrection of Mauritian
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
football lies in permitting the formation of clubs on the basis of ethnicity or religion.
External links
- Official site
- Mauritius at the FIFA website.
- Mauritius at CAF Online