The Malta Football Association has demoted Nadur Youngsters and fined them after the club's former secretary admitted bribery.

Nadur were runners-up in the Gozo league which has just finished.

The MFA said its Investigations Board had investigated allegations made against Anthony Sam Portelli and convicted him on the basis of his admission. 

He had been accused of having, prior to the match between Nadur Youngsters FC and Xewkija Tigers FC on February 7, when still serving as Secretary of Nadur Youngsters FC offered money to Xewkija player Peter Buttigieg to influence the match.

Mr Portelli was handed a life ban from all activities and functions of the MFA and the Gozo Football Association.  

The MFA pointed out that in terms of its rules, a club was found guilty when any of its officials was convicted of football corruption. 

The MFA said tough penalties had to be impose to deter corruption.

It therefore ordered Nadur Youngsters to be demoted from the first division (the top division in Gozo) to the  second division. The club was also fined €4,000.

In February, Anthony Sam Portelli, 33 and George Joseph Sultana were sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years, and fined €1,165.

They pleaded guilty to attempting to illegally influence the result of a key game between Nadur Youngsters and Gozitan champions Xewkija Tigers.

Their plan was leaked to the police before it could take effect.

When the case surfaced, Nadur Youngsters said in a statement Mr Portelli had been removed from the club committee with immediate effect and that any illegal action had been carried out by individuals acting of their own accord, without the club’s knowledge.