Any national team players implicated in a 2007 match-fixing scandal will be suspended at once pending a local probe into claims made in an international trial, Malta Football Association president Norman Darmanin Demajo has pledged.
The MFA has still not been informed of the names of players allegedly approached to manipulate the score of a Euro 2008 qualifying match between Norway and Malta on June 2, 2007, Mr Darmanin Demajo told The Sunday Times, but the association wants to send a strong message it is adopting a zero tolerance attitude to corruption.
Mr Darmanin Demajo admitted he was still shocked and bewildered by the allegations made in a court case in Germany last Thursday, but would not be drawn into commenting whether he believes the witness’s claims.
The issue came to light after Ante Sapina, Marijo Cvrtak and other members of a Croatian betting ring testified in a court in Bochum, Germany, where they stand accused of fixing around 47 matches.
Mr Cvrtak said he travelled to Oslo to meet at least three Maltese players at their hotel ahead of their Euro 2008 qualifier against Norway.
He was quoted as saying: “I would have rather had a 5-0 (result), but the players had already agreed between themselves.”
In the match against Norway, Malta conceded a goal after 30 minutes. The Maltese team appeared to be coping well with Norway’s pressure only to be swamped by a three-goal blitz in the final 17 minutes.
After the match, then Malta coach Dusan Fitzel expressed his disappointment at the team’s lacklustre performance, saying the team had been poor in all departments especially after Norway scored their second goal.
Ironically, Malta had exceeded expectations in the Euro 2008 qualifiers after finishing with five points.
Mr Darmanin Demajo insisted it would be irresponsible for the MFA to take such allegations with a pinch of salt so the necessary investigative procedures had been initiated and the police contacted about the matter.
“At the moment we only have court testimony. I have nothing to lead me to believe or reject the claims made.
“At this stage we’re still gathering data, but with three weeks to go to the next national team match we need to act fast.”
Mr Darmanin Demajo admitted that the perception of local football had been dented, and such claims hit right at the core of the association’s attempts to ensure footballers played to the best of their ability.
“We’re not immune to these things in Malta. We do have suspicions of match fixing and gambling activities surrounding football in Malta... but we need more information,” said Mr Darmanin Demajo, who only assumed his post last August.
But the MFA boss is well aware that the match-fixing “cancer” is rife in football and needs to be tackled fast.
“This is the tip of the iceberg and Fifa is aware of it. It’s too easy for players and referees, especially in the lower paid leagues, to act on their own and sell matches.
“If you know the result of a football match beforehand, it doesn’t matter if it’s the Champions League final or an amateur league match. There’s big money involved. It’s like knowing the Super 5 lottery numbers beforehand.”
Mr Cvrtak, 35, spent nearly four hours during his ongoing trial last week explaining how games were rigged and how cash was raked in.
Allegations that Malta’s qualifier against Norway may have been fixed surfaced days after Fifa announced it would fund an Interpol training programme to help tackle match-fixing and irregular betting thought to be worth hundreds of millions of euros.
hgrech@timesofmalta.com