Match-fixing problem demands united approach, says junior minister

Chris Agius discusses football corruption

The parliamentary secretary for sport Chris Agius has called for urgent action to save the game of football from the ravages of match-fixing, as calls for a clampdown on corruption in football from the Malta Football Association have intensified.

“It’s time to join forces, and not just police forces, but all those interested in the sport to save the game,” Agius said referring to Malta Football Association chief executive officer Bjorn Vassallo’s suggestion that the police should set up a unit to investigate football corruption.

Agius called for a united approach to find a solution to the problem of corruption in football, saying there was a need for stricter vigilance of football clubs and their dealings.

Agius also said that more had to be done to ensure the sustanaibility of football clubs, saying that lack of funds can lead to corruption in the game. “Although we cannot generalize, the situation nevertheless deserves our immediate attention.”

Earlier this week, in comments to MaltaToday, MFA CEO Bjorn Vassallo said that police could only investigate corruption in sport on an official complaint. “The problem is that not many people are going to speak up. There is a problem of omertà in Maltese football.” 

Matc-fixing, Vassallo explained, had become more sophisticated, often involving criminal organisations rigging matches and betting on them. “It’s a form of criminality that yields more profits than drugs and prostitution and it is extremely difficult to trace. How can you determine whether a goalkeeper conceded a goal on purpose?"

“The MFA can regularise sport for society, but we cannot prosecute criminals and we therefore need the authorities to intervene,” Vassallo said.