Malta FA integrity officer Franz Tabone feels that the powerful reaction to his incisive comments about the extent of match-fixing in Maltese football has gone some way towards vindicating his efforts to increase awareness about this plight.
Tabone caused an uproar last month after writing in his newsletter that Maltese football “is infested by people who grade the game’s sporting spirit at the lowest grade, if any”.
His statement that some “clubs finance their entire operation by manipulating matches, betting on them and the winnings going towards the club whilst also lining their own pockets”, irked many club officials.
Speaking on behalf of the Premier League Standing Committee (PLSC) during a Malta FA council meeting last Friday, Adrian Delia, the Birkirkara FC vice-president and council member, called on Tabone to substantiate his allegations as these, Dr Delia argued, tarnished the reputation of top-flight clubs.
“As PLSC, we are asking the Integrity Officer to either provide proof of what he wrote or retract the allegations,” Dr Delia said.
The ball is now in the clubs’ court. I have given them the lead, now they can do their own research
In his latest newsletter, published yesterday, Tabone denied suggestions that he “placed all the clubs in the same basket”.
“Those who feel that they are spanking clean should not worry about my declarations,” Tabone wrote in his newsletter under the title ‘Aftermath to newsletter 35’.
“I have now given all the clubs the opportunity to listen to the facts and if they are unaware of what is going on within their environment, to be aware and to be on their guard.
“The ball is now in their court. I have given them the lead, now they can do their own research.”
Tabone used his latest piece to outline his endeavours to deepen his knowledge and understanding of match-fixing in football since being appointed Malta FA integrity officer in 2011.
“No-one could guide me and nobody could specifically define my role, including UEFA,” Tabone reflected.
“Three years down the line, the European integrity network is now well established, my contacts at Malta Police, Interpol, Europol, Bochum Police, Italian Guardia di Finanza, FIFA, UEFA, Sportradar and other European bodies have been instrumental in stren-gthening my position and knowledge.
“What I had set out as my priority was to assist the honest people in football and weed out the bad characters who had quickly moved in and capitalised on an already compromised situation. Match-fixing had reached another level and had to be tackled differently.”
Tabone recounted that his first major task was to investigate match-fixing allegations sur-rounding the Euro 2008 qualifier between Norway and Malta after convicted Croatian fixer Marijo Cvrtak had told the Bochum police that he had bribed some Malta players to throw the game.
Norway beat Malta 4-0.
“This had sparked us into the reality of match-fixing for betting purposes, and that we were also an integral part of the pheno-menon,” Tabone noted.
“I needed to engage in thorough research and understanding of the subject, taking me all round the island and abroad speaking to hundreds of people in football and outside.”
Tabone said that he felt compelled to offer his energy to smoothen the path for present and future generations. “What I was saying and doing all along, did not, initially and even recently, go down well with everyone,” Tabone said.
“They were getting the wrong impression and message, they thought that I was after their blood or out to tarnish somebody’s reputation. Far from it, all I was interested in was to give our football a cleaner image.”
In expressing his satisfaction at the impact of the Integrity Office’s educational campaign, Tabone wrote: “Part of my mission has been achieved as I have managed to spark an unprecedented reaction in the country.
“I have done the exacting work and came out with the facts. Now it rests on the honest people in football to do their bit. They must not shift their focus from reality to some technicality which will only deter progress.
“Let’s not miss the wood for the trees.”