A legal company has written to the Public Accounts Committee asking the National Audit Office to investigate what the firm considered to be anti-competitive behaviour by service providers which benefited from public funds.

Aquitas Legal, writing on behalf of Project Global Limited, complained that the project company was being excluded from contracts in supplying synthetic turf to football clubs.

The letter by the legal company referred in particular to a decision by the Gozo Football Association to cancel the tendering process for the supply of synthetic turf for three grounds in Gozo and let the clubs make their own choices. The clubs, which benefited indirectly from public funds through the GFA, awarded the contracts directly.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Chris Agius, said such public funds often did not amount to more than 10 per cent of the total bill and were given upon the submission of receipts. It was obvious that the tendering process was the most transparent one but it would then take longer to start and finish projects.

He said that the practice had also been adopted by the Good Causes Funds and the Malta Sport Council.

Auditor General Anthony Mifsud suggested the Finance Ministry issue clear directives for the adoption of a transparent system.

Public Accounts Committee chairman Tonio Fenech said the tendering process did not apply to contracts under €10,000.