The National Audit Office has denied misleading the public when it reported that the Malta Football Association was due to receive €400,000 from the Good Causes Fund.

The office explained that it based its assessment on an agreement between the government and the MFA signed in February 2012 for €5.6 million, which provided the basis for money transferred from the fund to the association.

The MFA argued the €400,000 was reallocated among clubs; this is irrelevant

The NAO acknowledged that assistance provided through this arrangement went directly to clubs, therefore bypassing the MFA, but the agreement had been signed by the MFA.

“Therefore, the NAO is of the firm opinion that it was in no way misleading or inaccurate in its reporting of fact,” the statement said.

The NAO also clarified that although the MFA had to receive a €400,000 grant, only €150,000 had been paid up to the first quarter of 2013.

But although the justification of grants exceeding permissible allocations was a matter the fund administrators had to address, the NAO said the €400,000 allocated to the MFA exceeded the threshold of €50,000.

“The MFA argued that the €400,000 was then reallocated among various member football clubs; however, this is irrelevant, as the grant agreement was signed between the government and the association, and it is in this sense that NAO considers such an agreement to be in breach of established guidelines.”