The 2019–20 Maltese FA Trophy was the 82nd edition of the football cup competition.
Balzan were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Pietà Hotspurs.
On 18 May 2020, the Malta FA Executive Committee decided to terminate the competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Format
The clubs in the Premier League, First Division, Second Division and Third Division together with those from the Gozo Football League are involved in the draws of the initial rounds. The 14 top-flight sides enter the fray in the third round. Matches which are level after regulation advanced to extra time and afterwards to penalties to determine a winner, when needed.
Clubs entering in this roundClubs advancing from previous roundPreliminary round (16 clubs) 9 clubs from Gozo Football League 7 clubs from Maltese Third Division N/AFirst round (18 clubs) 5 clubs from Gozo Football League 5 clubs from Maltese Third Division 8 winners from Preliminary roundSecond round(36 clubs) 14 clubs from Maltese First Division 14 clubs from Maltese Second Division 9 winners from First roundThird round(32 clubs) 14 clubs from Maltese Premier League 18 winners from Second roundFourth round(16 clubs) No other entries 16 winners from Third roundQuarter-finals(8 clubs) No other entries 8 winners from Fourth roundSemi-finals(4 clubs) No other entries 4 winners from Quarter-finalsFinal(2 clubs) No other entries 2 winners from Semi-finals
Schedule
The draws were made on 6 August 2018 and were conducted by Dr. Angelo Chetcuti, the General Secretary of the Malta Football Association, and Rodney Pisani, the Deputy General Secretary of the Association who leads the Competitions Department.
Round Date(s) Draw date Number of fixtures Clubs Preliminary round 7–9 September 2019 8 August 2018 8 67 → 59 First round 13–16 September 2019 9 59 → 50 Second round 25–28 October 2019 18 50 → 32 Third round 29 November - 1 December 2019 6 November 2019 16 32 → 16 Fourth round 24–26 January 2020 8 16 → 8 Quarter-finals 29 February - 1 March 2020 31 January 2020 4 8 → 4 Semi-finals TBD TBD 2 4 → 2 Final TBD 1 2 → 1
Preliminary round
Eight preliminary round matches were played on 6 till 9 September 2019. The draw for the preliminary, first, and second rounds was held on 8 August 2019.
First round
Nine first round matches were played on 13 till 16 September 2019. The draw for the preliminary, first, and second rounds was held 8 August 2019.
Second round
Eighteen second round matches were played on 25 and 28 October 2019. The draw for the preliminary, first, and second rounds was held 8 August 2019. All teams from Maltese First Division and Maltese Second Division entered in the Second round. In the Second Round there are 2 clubs from Maltese Third Division and 5 clubs from Gozo Football League First Division left.
Third round Sixteen third round matches were played on 29 November and 1 December 2019. The draw for the third and fourth rounds was held on 6 November 2019. All teams from Maltese Premier League entered in Third round. The top six position from 2018-19 Maltese Premier League teams that are seeded in the third round of the FA Trophy. A total of thirty-two clubs will be involved in the draw. In the Third Round there are 9 clubs from Maltese First Division, 5 clubs from Maltese Second Division and 4 clubs from Gozo Football League First Division left.
Fourth round Eight Fourth round matches were played on 24–26 January 2020. The draw for the third and fourth rounds was held on 6 November 2019. In the Fourth Round there are 11 clubs from Maltese Premier League, 3 clubs from Maltese First Division and 2 clubs from Gozo Football League First Division left.
Quarter-finals Four quarter-final matches were scheduled on 29 February and 1 March 2020. The draw for the quarter-finals will be held on 31 January 2020. In the Quarter-finals there are 7 clubs from Maltese Premier League and 1 club from Maltese First Division left.
Semi-finals Two semi-final matches was going to play in May 2020 at National Stadium, Ta' Qali. On 18 May 2020, the Malta FA Executive Committee decided to terminate the competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Television rights The following matches were broadcast live on TVM2:
Round TVM2 Stadium Third Round Birkirkara vs Nadur YoungstersNational Stadium, Ta' Qali Fourth Round Valletta vs Sirens Centenary Stadium Quarter-finals Floriana vs BirkirkaraNational Stadium, Ta' Qali
See also 2019–20 Maltese Premier League
References
External links Official FA Trophy website The Maltese FA Trophy on UEFA