Coach, FIFA referee convicted for bribery

The two men, identified as former Albanian-born coach Ilir Pelinku (ex Lija) and Joe ,  who was stripped of his FIFA referee badge, were slapped with a life ban in 2010 by the Malta Football Association at the height of the investigation over the attempted bribery ahead of the UEFA Europa League match between Marsaxlokk and Croatian side Slaven Beluppo.

Evidence produced by prosecuting officer Inspector Angelo Gafa from the Economic Crimes Unit, proved how Pelinku and Attard had approached Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Salvu Darmanin in a bid to let Slaven Beluppo have an easy 3-0 win.

Darmanin, who refused the offer, had flagged the attempt to his team president and later to the MFA who immediately launched an investigation after the game, which was lost by Marsaxlokk by 4-0.

An MFA investigation established that Darmanin was the whistleblower and was not involved in the scam and was exonerated from any suspicion, while the report was immediately handed to the police for investigation.

In handing down judgement, Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona ruled that there was enough evidence to prove that Pelinku and Attard had approached Darmanin before the game, and telephone calls made from mobile and landline calls between the three a mere 24 hours before the game was further evidence to the crime.