A former president of a Maltese football club has admitted that although he started out with the intention of playing clean, he had no choice but to become the most corrupt of the lot, according to the Malta Football Association’s integrity officer.
Speaking on Times Talk yesterday about match-fixing allegations which have rocked the local football scene, Franz Tabone described the admission he received while conducting investigations as being very indicative of the growing corruption polluting local football.
“A former president of a football club told me: ‘When I first started out, I had all the intention of playing clean. I ended up being more corrupt than anyone else.’
“My mission is to raise awareness and open people’s eyes and to help honest people in clubs.
“The extent of the problem is evident from the statement of another ex-president, who told me that I was trying to bring down Mount Everest with a toothpick.”
Mr Tabone stoked controversy early last month when he claimed that Maltese football was infested by people who rated the game’s sporting spirit “at the lowest grade, if any”.
Some club officials were blind before the promise of money and would dive into any abyss for it.
Mr Tabone professed himself to be angry at the so-called traditional match-fixing (which is somewhat distinct from the betting-related match-fixing, although both are illegal).
“I’ve been told by serious people: ‘What’s wrong with helping your team win?’
“There’s this impression that it’s totally acceptable to match-fix for the glory of winning and getting drunk in celebration.”
‘There’s the impression that it’s OK’
Former Ħamrun goalkeeper and whistleblower Andrea Cassar, who was approached in 2013 by two players and two committee members from his own club to allow a set number of goals for a sum of money, spoke of the insults and threats he had received when he refused to accept the bribes.
According to Valletta FC president Victor Sciriha, corruption in Maltese football was rampant but one should not put all clubs in the same basket.
“Match-fixing is not an easy thing to prove. Certain things are obvious on the football ground but one would be unable to prove anything.”
Mr Tabone said there were limitations in budget and resources which the MFA had to work with.
However the association could be endowed with millions of euros but would still lack the one, vital ingredient – and that is witnesses.
“Unfortunately, the MFA is unable to protect whistleblowers,” the MFA’s vice-president Chris Bonett argued. The association is exploring how the use of an anonymous witness could be incorporated, as this is not the practice in Maltese law.
Another issue which needed to be tackled was the meagre penalties being doled out by the courts. The possibility of being handed a suspended sentence should be removed altogether, according to Dr Bonett.
The recently set up Anti-Corruption and Transparency Taskforce – which comprises the Home Affairs Minister and Sports Parliamentary Secretary, their Opposition counterparts, the Malta Gaming Authority, the MFA and the Malta Sports Council – will be looking into the need to revise the laws on corruption in sports.
According to Birkirkara FC vice-president Adrian Delia, match-fixing was being fuelled by the appalling salary capping rule.
Introduced in the early 1990s, the capping stipulates that a part-time player playing in the Maltese Premier League can only earn a maximum gross salary of €350 per month, while a full-time player can earn a maximum gross salary of €1,200.
Removing the capping would enable players to have a transparent agreement with clubs.