Police have launched an investigation into allegations that last week’s UEFA Championship Under-21 qualifier between Malta and Montenegro may have been targeted for match-fixing purposes.

Sources have told Times of Malta that a number of Malta Under-21 players were summoned for questioning at the police headquarters yesterday.

In a statement today, the Malta FA said it was informed that the investigation was underway and it was working closely with the authorities.

However, it preferred not to comment at this stage.

It said that as it had done in the past, it would continue to do everything in its power to protect the integrity of Maltese football.

Reports that the Group One qualifier, won 1-0 by Montenegro, may have attracted the attention of match-fixers surfaced the day after the match.

Times of Malta has been probing the claims for a number of days but the Malta FA, probably mindful of the ill-effects this story might have on the team’s build-up for tomorrow’s home qualifier against the Czech Republic at the National Stadium, initially opted for prudence.

Contacted on Friday, Bjorn Vassallo, the MFA general secretary, refrained from commenting on the rumours, adding only that the association was waiting for the report of SportsRadar on the betting patterns related to last Wednesday’s qualifier.

The fact that illegal betting is known to be rife in Montenegro meant that last week’s Group One UEFA Championship qualifier was regarded as a high-risk match as far as betting is concerned.

The local football body is also likely to have alerted UEFA about the case.

The Malta U-21 team have enjoyed a very positive European Championship qualifying campaign so far, collecting five points from six games.