Opposition whip David Agius made an impassioned plea in Parliament against match-fixing in Maltese football and called for an investigation into betting.

He referred to a newsletter by Malta Football Association Integrity Officer Frans Tabone who alleged that local football was infested with individuals and clubs manipulating matches, betting on them and taking winnings for the clubs and for themselves.

Investigators knew where to begin. Maltese football must be rid of this criminal activity.

His family had suffered in the past because they were against corruption in sports and sports journalists had been threatened.

Mr Agius called on the Malta Football Association, the Malta Gaming Authority, the Police Corps and the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit to join forces and investigate, saying legal betting on premier and first division games amounted to €70 million.

There were even claims that it amounted to €500 million with winnings going up to €157 million.

He asked why income and expenditure declarations from clubs had not been investigated following the newsletter published on January 5.

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