Birkirkara FC council member Adrian Delia, speaking on behalf of the Premier League Standing Committee (PLSC), challenged Malta FA Integrity Officer Franz Tabone to substantiate his allegations against top-flight clubs as match-fixing was again discussed during a council meeting at the Centenary Hall, yesterday.
In a newsletter issued earlier this month, Tabone warned that the local game was “infested” with illegal betting to the point that it was “steadily destroying” the image of football.
“Franz Tabone made very serious claims in his report and as a consequence the integrity of all Premier League clubs has been tarnished by the allegations of bribery.
“Now, as Premier League Standing Committee we are asking the Integrity Officer to provide proof of what he wrote or else withdraw the allegations.
“We’re ready to provide an affidavit to deny these accusations and protect the image of our clubs.”
Malta FA president Norman Darmanin Demajo said the matter will be discussed more thoroughly in the coming weeks.
Earlier in the meeting, Bjorn Vassallo, the general secretary, informed council members that former Ħamrun Spartans players Massimo Grima and Roderick Fenech had lodged an appeal against their life-time ban for match-fixing.
Late last year, Grima and Fenech were banned by the Malta FA after being found guilty of throwing matches during the 2012-13 season.
Vassallo said the appeal is now under review and the process is expected to start soon.
Council members yesterday also voted in favour of a recommendation by the Executive Committee to grant Qormi permission to take their case against their former striker Sebastian Siritto to the police for further investigation.
Last month, Qormi were docked three points, suspended for 12 months, after the MFA had ruled against them in a case of a fake signature on official documentation concerning Siritto.
Qormi denied any wrongdoing and the club reiterated their stance to clear their name. Their complaint at the Appeals Board was overruled but now Qormi want the police to start their own probe into the case.
Meanwhile, Darmanin Demajo revealed that the Malta FA will be supporting Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein’s campaign for the FIFA presidency.
The MFA president told council members that during the past weeks, he was inundated with requests for backing from the various candidates ahead of the crucial vote in Zurich, on May 31.
“After a series of meetings during which we thoroughly discussed the subject we reached a decision to back Prince Ali,” Darmanin Demajo said.
“He is down-to-earth and helps others in need and that is something that we admire a lot in him.”
Other matters
• This week, the MFA refunded clubs with money from the UEFA Solidarity Payments that was kept on the association’s accounts between 2002 and 2008.
In total, 45 clubs got a share from €36,725.75 after a report from the Board of Internal Auditors had received the go-ahead from the council in 2013.
Also this week, local clubs and nurseries received UEFA Champions League profit-sharing payments.
The total sum allocated to Malta this year was €290,918.
• A player failed a doping test during the First Division match between Gudja United and Melita which was played in November. The player has been notified and will face charges in the coming weeks.
• A motion, presented by St George’s representative Michael Cutajar on loans for U-12 players was approved. The motion requested that U-12 players be given the opportunity to be loaned out to other clubs without compensation.