National coach gives his version

Subsequent to the article on the German Internet site Spiegel Online about Maltese soccer by German correspondent Alwin Schroeder, the Malta FA yesterday sought national coach Siegfried Held's version of the interview.

The MFA Media Department issued a statement on the subject which has raised controversy about the unsavoury comments. The statement carried the Malta team national coach's own words about the matter.

Mr Held said: "In the interview I gave to Alwin Schroeder of Spiegel Online I only spoke about football and, among other things, pointed out some difficulties in the Maltese game. This was made in the context of difficulties some players have when they are undergoing preparation with the national team, of which I am responsible.

"I must make it clear that in the interview I never referred to other things outside football. Anything else which was carried in the article was the personal view of the correspondent who, I must say, was on the island for a short holiday."

In an interview carried in The Times, yesterday, Mr Held had also distanced himself from the author's comments.