Club unaware of bribery attempt - president

Marsaxlokk FC president Robert Micallef yesterday said that he and his fellow members in the committee knew nothing of the alleged bribery attempt by one of their players and a prominent member in the coaching staff that saw both individuals arraigned in court on Friday and admitting the charges.

Midfielder Claude Mattocks and assistant coach Peter Hartshorne were charged with trying to offer a bribe to Msida St Joseph FC goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri, who the court heard last week, turned down their approach.

In a statement, Micallef said Marsaxlokk FC has nothing to do with the alleged case.

"Personally, and on behalf of the club, I declare that we knew nothing of this case.

Marsaxlokk FC dissassociates itself from such alleged happenings," he said.

"While we denounce anything bad that could tarnish Maltese football, we want all truth to emerge from this case and those really responsible for all this made to pay for their actions.

"We also intend to take all measures possible as we want our club to maintain its clean reputation as has always been the case with Marsaxlokk FC."

The case revolves around a BOV Premier League match between Marsaxlokk and Msida, played last November. The final score was 1-1.

Both teams eventually got engaged in a head-to-head race for the last place available in the Championship Pool with the Southerners clinching the top-six berth after three victories on the trot last month and the Saints winning none.

On Friday, president Joe Mifsud instructed the Malta FA Board to Investigate Corrupt Practices to hold an inquest into the case and to suspend Hartshorne and Mattocks, a former Malta international midfielder, with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, Marsaxlokk FC have announced that for the time being no member of the committee, coaching staff or players will be giving any comments or attending sports programmes on radio and TV.