A Nigerian man who came to Malta to play football but whose contract never materialised admitted trying to leave Malta with fake Italian documents.

Ita Francis, 24, originally came to Malta with a valid visa to play for the Cospicua-based St George’s Football Club but, despite playing some matches, the contract was never signed.

So he purchased fake Italian documents to be able to leave Malta to find luck in another country, he told the police. He was arrested at the check-in at Malta Inter­national Airport.

Before Magistrate Neville Camilleri, Mr Francis pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment suspended for two years.

Police inspector Darren Buhagiar prosecuted.

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