MFA head exposes attempt to rig UEFA club match in Malta

An attempt to influence the outcome of a UEFA club match played in Malta in the season just started has been uncovered.

This was revealed by Dr Joe Mifsud, the Malta FA president, in a strongly-worded closing address at the association's 2007-08 annual general meeting, held yesterday at the Centenary Hall.

Dr Mifsud told an astounded audience that the Malta FA has discovered an attempt by foreign individuals and their Maltese accomplices to rig a match involving a local team.

The MFA head confirmed that the match took place in Malta but stopped short of identifying which of the three UEFA club games played here this season had been targeted.

The three Maltese clubs that hosted matches from one of the three UEFA competitions this season are Hibs, who were eliminated by Slovenia's NK Gorica in the Intertoto Cup, champions Valletta who lost 3-0 on aggregate to Slovakian team Artmedia Petrzalka and Marsaxlokk who suffered a 4-0 defeat to Croatia's Slaven Koprivnica in the first leg of their UEFA Cup first qualifying round tie at the National Stadium.

Unconfirmed reports reaching The Sunday Times suggest that the match in question is that between Marsaxlokk and Slaven.

The startling revelation about the botched match-fixing attempt in Malta was the cue for Mifsud to issue a stern warning to those perpetuating corruption in Maltese football.

"The spectre of corruption in local football must be eradicated," Dr Mifsud warned.

"There is a lot of talk about Maltese football being dogged by bribery but the speculation often turns out to be unfounded. Nevertheless, we can't turn a blind eye to this malady. We need to be more vigilant and step up our efforts to rid Maltese football of match-fixing.

"Referees, coaches and all those involved in Maltese football have been reminded of their responsibility to play fair.

"The MFA will show no mercy towards anyone found guilty of bribery. We are ready to go all the way in our fight against corruption.

"Club officials have a sacrosanct duty to report to the MFA any information or suspicions they may have about match-rigging cases."

After shedding light on the ploy to fix a UEFA match in Malta, Dr Mifsud said that rampant internet betting has aggravated the problem.

He reminded officials of local clubs that MFA regulations preclude them from placing bets on matches involving their teams.

"Don't let an individual destroy your club because of bribery," Dr Mifsud exclaimed. "I was shocked to learn that there was an attempt by foreign individuals to influence the result of a European match in Malta.

"Corruption is the cancer of football and the problem is worldwide."