Sliema Wanderers football club in a statement today denied that it, or any of its officials, had spread rumours about goalkeeper Simon Agius or his family.

The club was reacting to a judicial protest filed yesterday by Mr Agius against the club and its officials. He claimed that malicious claims of corruption had been made about him.

In its statement, the club explained that ahead of its crucial match against Qormi yesterday, the team players were staying in a hotel. Mr Agius asked to speak to committee members and a cordial meeting was held on Monday night, lasting till the early hours of the following morning.

In the morning (on Tuesday), the club officials learnt that Mr Agius had left the team hotel on his own initiative and without telling anyone.

They then learnt from the media that he had filed a judicial protest.

The club said it could not tolerate such behaviour from a player immediately before such a decisive match.

The club and its officials insisted that they had never alleged or sought to give the impression that Mr Agius may have been involved in corruption. This was only being claimed by Mr Agius who, the club pointed out, had not honoured his contract.

The club denied that it had refused to go to the police about alleged cases of corruption or that Mr Agius or his family were intimidated.

The club said it would submit a formal complaint to the Malta Football Association about Mr Agius’s behaviour and his unilateral violation of the contract.