Shocked by recent claims that Maltese football was riddled with corruption, the government was determined to take all necessary measures to step up the fight against match-fixing, the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Chris Agius, said.
“I am looking forward to meeting the Malta Football Association and the Opposition in the coming days to hear their proposals,” he said.
The meeting, set for February 3, was called in the wake of corruption accusations that have rocked the local football scene.
“The current situation calls for strong deterrents but, at this stage, all options are being considered as long as the MFA is onboard,” Mr Agius said.
Following a hotly contested game which my father had officiated, a bomb was placed outside our house
He was approached by Times of Malta following comments made earlier this month by MFA integrity officer Franz Tabone. In a newsletter, he warned that the local game was “infested” with corruption to the point that it was “steadily destroying” the image of football. Subsequently, MFA secretary general Bjorn Vassallo reported that, in 2013, legal bets on the top two divisions totalled a staggering €70 million.
Mr Agius was president of St George’s FC when, in 2008, two club players admitted receiving bribes of €1,000 each to influence the result of a derby match against Vittoriosa Stars. Mr Agius acknowledged that, nowadays, it was more likely to involve internet betting than bribes.
The issued was even raised in Parliament by Opposition MP David Agius who made an impassioned plea to fight match-fixing and called for tougher sanctions and more stringent financial regulations on clubs. He recounted an incident dating back about 30 years involving his father, Twanny Agius, a well-known referee who used to control top division games.
“Following a hotly contested game between Ħamrun Spartans and Żurrieq Wolves, which my father had officiated, a bomb was placed outside our house,” Mr Agius recalled. “This incident was a stark reminder of the possible consequences for anyone who would resist bribes or any other illegal approach,” Mr Agius added.
Asked for his ideas on how best to crack down on criminal gangs involved in illegal betting, he proposed the setting up of a specialised unit that would focus exclusively on such circles.
This would include the police, the Attorney General, the MFA, the gaming watchdog and even civil society, he added.
Mr Agius also called for tougher legislation and more protection to whistleblowers.