Criminal charges have been filed against two football players over allegations of match fixing before a Premier League game last season.

Gaetan Spiteri and Julian Briffa are expected to be charged in court in the coming days after they were accused of bribery, with Mr Briffa allegedly acting as a middle-man between Mr Spiteri and a third player, sources said.

Mr Spiteri joined Qormi on a season-long loan from Ħamrun Spartans last summer while Mr Briffa began last season with Sliema Wanderers before moving to Mqabba in January.

Mr Briffa was suspended earlier this month following a Malta FA investigation into claims of bribery attempts before last season’s Premier League second-round match between Ħamrun Spartans and Sliema Wanderers. The game, played in February, ended 1-1.

Mr Spiteri and two other players, Chris Brincat, and his brother Jermain, were provisionally suspended by the Malta FA Executive Committee on Tuesday after the allegations emerged.

The suspension of the Brincat brothers is linked to another investigation into match-fixing allegations surrounding the Division One game between Gżira United and Naxxar Lions, which was played on September 28.

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