Retired judge and former Malta Olympic Committee head Lino Farrugia Sacco.

Retired judge Lino Farrugia Sacco is throwing his weight behind eight candidates contesting the executive of the Malta Olympic Committee.

Dr Farrugia Sacco headed the MOC for 14 years until May 2013 when he did not seek re-election as he faced an impeachment motion in Parliament to remove him from the judiciary.

Sources at the MOC said Dr Farrugia Sacco’s support for the eight candidates was being interpreted as paving the way for his possible re-entry into the committee.

Attempts to contact Dr Farrugia Sacco yesterday proved futile. But an e-mail seen by this newspaper circulated among MOC members by one of the candidates on the list of eight identified Dr Farrugia Sacco and former national football team coach Pippo Psaila as backers for their bid.

Dr Farrugia Sacco was embroiled in controversy in 2012 after he was rapped by the International Olympic Committee in the wake of an investigation by The Sunday Times of London into the sale of tickets for the London Olympics.

Dr Farrugia Sacco denied any wrongdoing and insisted the video footage was manipulated. It was this incident that prompted then prime minister Lawrence Gonzi to file an impeachment motion.

A group of people have teamed together to address and offer you a solution to this sad state of sport

However, the former judge escaped impeachment after the Labour government effectively thwarted the process after insisting on waiting for the constitutional court case filed by Dr Farrugia Sacco to be concluded. He retired from the Bench in August last year upon turning 65.

The eight candidates for the MOC executive supported by Dr Farrugia Sacco and Mr Psaila are: Marie Therese Zammit, Xandru Grech, Kenneth Abela, Tony Caruana, Vince Scicluna, Johanna Grech, Branko Vlahovic and Envic Galea.

When contacted Mr Psaila, a former MOC sports director, confirmed that he and Dr Farrugia Sacco were backing the team of eight. “They have a proven track record in sport both competitively and administratively. They have a lot to offer and this is the reason I am lending my support,” Mr Psaila said.

Asked whether Dr Farrugia Sacco had any interest in making a return, Mr Psaila insisted he could not speak for others.

An e-mail seen by this newspaper sent to MOC members by Mr Psaila urged support for the eight candidates.

Mr Psaila wrote that over the past two years Maltese sport, especially the MOC, witnessed a progressive deterioration in “good governance, a vacuum in strong leadership and lack of credibility”.

“A group of people have teamed together to address and offer you a solution to this sad state of sport,” he wrote, listing the names of the candidates.

But the election has been overshadowed by a complaint lodged by the eight candidates, who are insisting the March 25 deadline for nominations was not according to the statute.

In a letter seen by this newspaper, the eight candidates on the block vote are contending the deadline for nominations should have been set 28 days before voting day, which would have pushed the cut-off date to March 10.

The candidates have asked the MOC to ensure that the seven nominees who filed their candidatures after March 10 be barred from the vote. There are 18 candidates contesting the eight vacant posts.

Contacted yesterday, Julian Pace Bonello, MOC president, confirmed receipt of the complaint. “We are currently seeking legal advice on the matter so I would not like to comment on the issue at the moment. We shall be issuing a statement and our decision on the case on Monday [tomorrow],” Mr Pace Bonello said.

The other candidates are: Lucienne Attard, William Beck, Francesca Borg, Dion Buhagiar, Charles Camenzuli, Sue Mercieca, Kirill Micallef Stafrace, Paul Sultana, Jonathan Vella and Joe Zammit Pavia.