Court hears reasons for corruption claims against MFA president

Foreign media reported that money paid to the Malta Football Association, for a game organised by president Joe Mifsud against a German team, did not go into the association's account, a court heard yesterday.

A documentary aired on BBC Panorama in 2007 and an article published in German Manager Magazine alleged that money that Dr Mifsud, as MFA president, was paid for a match against Bayern Munich in 2000 went into a trust fund.

However, the association did not have a trust fund at the time, former MFA treasurer Norman Darmanin Demajo said as he continued his testimony that began in a previous court sitting.

Mr Darmanin Demajo, who had contested the election for the post of MFA president, testified before Magistrate Michael Mallia in two libel cases which Dr Mifsud has filed against him.

One case was filed against Mr Darmanin Demajo alone for a letter he wrote asking the MFA to investigate Dr Mifsud over allegations of corruption, misappropriation of funds and breaching the MFA statute.

The letter was sent to the MFA general secretary, the chairman of the board of inquiries and the chairman of internal auditors in December 2008.

Dr Mifsud filed a second suit against Mr Darmanin Demajo as well as former Illum editor Kurt Sansone and journalist Mark Attard for running a story about the letter on December 14, 2008.

The two cases are being heard together given that they are based on the same evidence.

During yesterday's sitting Mr Darmanin Demajo explained to the court why he had written the letter.

The 2008 letter made reference to another letter he had sent to the MFA in 2000 in which he also made allegations of corruption.

The 2008 letter made fresh allegations that were based on new information released in foreign media.

As the treasurer of the MFA, Mr Darmanin Demajo said he had access to the association's contracts, the content of which had made him suspicious about Dr Mifsud's dealings.

Details of the contracts cannot be revealed by court order given that they are confidential in nature.

The timing of one contract coincided with the time when the FIFA executive committee, of which Dr Mifsud was a member, had to decide which country would host the 2006 World Cup.

Mr Darmanin Demajo said that, as time passed, his suspicions about Dr Mifsud were reinforced by reports that appeared in foreign media - Manager Magazine and BBC Panorama.

The media alleged that in 2000, Germany, which was bidding to host the 2006 World Cup, had tried to buy the votes of four country representatives on the FIFA board.

These countries were Thailand, Tunisia, Trinidad and Tobago and Malta, Mr Darmanin Demajo said.

He added that when the BBC reporter called Dr Mifsud for a reaction he was told to mind his own business.

Mr Darmanin Demajo pointed out that Dr Mifsud had not initiated libel proceedings against the two foreign media.

Meanwhile, Dr Mifsud noted that Mr Darmanin Demajo's testimony was based on what other people had reported and said. He insisted that "unsubstantiated allegations were not evidence".

Mr Darmanin Demajo is expected to conclude his testimony during the next court sitting scheduled on October 22.

Lawyers Chris Bonett and Maxilene Cassar appeared for Mr Darmanin Demajo while lawyer Toni Abela represented Mr Sansone and Mr Attard.

Dr Mifsud chose to defend himself after his lawyer, Pawlu Lia, did not turn up.