MFA condemned for ‘unfounded’ match-fixing allegations

The Premier Division Standing Committee has condemned a recent statement by the Malta FA that shed a damning light on the widespread state of corruption in local football.  

“We deplore the way clubs’ names have been tarnished due to serious allegations that were made generically rather than directly,” the PDSC, a board made up of Premier League club president, said in a statement. “The MFA’s baseless statement has painted all clubs with the same brush.”

The MFA’s Integrity Officer Franz Tabone stirred the waters of local football when he wrote in a newsletter in January that “our football is infested by people who grade the game’s sporting spirit at the lowest grade, if any”.

“Some club officials are blind when they come across money and will dive into any abyss for it,” Tabone wrote. “Some football clubs finance their entire operations by manipulating matches and betting on them, with the winnings going into the club whilst also lining their own pockets.” 

However, MFA secretary Bjorn Vassallo later played down concerns that the MFA has proof of Maltese clubs that operate in this manner.

“I believe that a lot of clubs are properly administered but yes, some of them could be financed by match fixing,” he told MaltaToday. 

“If he has any information, Tabone should instantly take all the necessary steps as per football regulations and refer said information to the police,” the PDSC said. “If he doesn’t have any information, he should instantly retract those accusations. Otherwise, we will formally ask the clubs we represent to take all necessary steps to defend their names and their honour through any permissible legal avenue.”

“The clubs will declare through an affidavit that their operations aren’t financed by match-fixing and their accounts will be open to full scrutiny. In a separate declaration, they will also condemn all types of football corruption.”