Tough stance against corruption

A conference call by the Malta FA yesterday was supposed to deal mainly with the national team's commitments in the upcoming World Cup qualifers next month.

Malta play Portugal in their opening group match on September 6 before travelling to east Europe for another qualifier against Albania on September 10.

However, president Joe Mifsud yesterday dedicated most of his speech to highlight the MFA stance against corruption and the measures that will be adopted to provide a clean image to the local game.

A few weeks ago, Dr Mifsud spoke at length during the association's annual general meeting about corruption allegations involving a Maltese team in European competitions. Yesterday, the MFA head confirmed that the police are handling the case but stopped short from giving more details, again deciding not to mention the game under investigation.

"As I've said before, the case is in the hands of the police and I cannot devulge any more information," Dr Mifsud said.

"However, we have to deal with this 'malady' right away. We hear of rumours and speculations along the season here and such doubts are fast killing our game. This has to stop once and for all.

"We cannot have such talk overshadowing our football. Before the season, the association got in contact with all clubs, urging them to prepare for the 2008/09 campaign. We need to have keen competition and final outcomes free from all doubts."

Dr Mifsud warned those breaking the rules that the MFA will come down heavily on them.

"We will not hesitate to apply our rules and punish the culprits... the MFA will show no mercy in these circumstances," Dr Mifsud affirmed.

"All cases will be dealt with accordingly and the police will be asked to assist us in these cases if necessary. I personally had a meeting with national team players and referees and I was clear in my words.

"If someone is approached to throw a match and fails to take the case to the authorities, we consider these individuals as accomplices. They will be considered equally guilty of committing a crime."

Big-money betting and corruption in football, and most other sport for that matter, has been the phenomenon in most countries across the globe these past few years. World body FIFA is also adopting a tough stance to counter the possibility of having rigged matches tarnishing the image of the game.

"If someone is directly involved in the game, players or club officials, they cannot place any kind of betting on matches involving the domestic league," Dr Mifsud said.

"FIFA is helping us in this matter. Now, Swiss company Intralot, which monitors betting patterns across the continent, will inform us if any of our matches is under suspicion. We will do our utmost to keep our game as clean as possible and stave off the this threat of corruption."

On a lighter note, Dr Mifsud told reporters that the MFA's decision not to allow individuals wearing summer shorts in the VIP area was to stand.

"We're not against summer wear but we think such clothing is not appropriate for this particular section of the stadium. The rule applies to both male and female individuals passing through the main gate," he said.

Fitzel's hopes

National coach Dusan Fitzel is bracing himself for a tough World Cup qualifying campaign and said all opponents in Group One are of a different level and more difficult to beat than the ones Malta had faced in the Euro 2008 group.

Besides Portugal and Albania, the national team will also play against Sweden, Denmark and Hungary.

"This is a new campaign with new opposition but our focus remains the same... to get good results," Fitzel said.

"Looking at our group, I think Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Denmark and Albania are stronger than the teams we played in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. However, we will prepare ourselves adequately for these matches and aspire for positive results no matter how difficult the matches will be."

Against Portugal, Fitzel will have to do without Andrew Cohen and Andre Schembri. The squad has not been announced but the Malta coach is expected to finalise his list for the match next week.

Meanwhile, Mark Miller will be making his last showing on the U-21 bench on September 5 when his team plays against France in the remaining Group 10 qualifier.

Miller has been at the MFA coaching staff for eight years but will be leaving the national team set-up next month to have a second stint with Hibernians.

"This match won't be a friendly as France are looking to qualifying for the finals and still have two matches left," Miller said.

"At the moment, Wales are leading the group, but France, three points behind, will get back in the reckoning if they beat us."

Miller will not have a full complement available as Paul Fenech, Ryan Fenech and Andre Schembri, who is still on the U-21 list, are suspended.

"Malta U-21 beat Liechtenstein in a friendly earlier this month but France will be a different proposition," Miller said.

"This will be my last match in charge but I think the one replacing me already has a solid base to assemble a strong squad for the future."