One of Malta's top referees, Joe Attard, and former premier league coach Ilir Pelinku were yesterday charged with trying to bribe Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin in a UEFA cup match.

The two had said in a police statement that the club was involved in the bribery as was a player of Slaven Belupo, the opposing team from Croatia, Police Inspector Angelo Gafà testified yesterday.

The bribery is alleged to have taken place on July 16 last year. Mr Attard is a renowned referee and used to be chosen by the world football body FIFA to officiate in international matches.

Inspector Gafà said that Mr Darmanin gave him the information and will be testifying during the next sitting.

The president of the Malta Football Association and the Vice President of UEFA, Joe Mifsud, testified yesterday saying that as soon as he found out about the case, he took it straight to the police.

Mr Pelinku relinquished his post as coach of the Lija football club "for personal reasons" just days before the case came to light, while Mr Attard has been suspended until the case is decided.

Recently, corruption in Maltese football was lifted into the spotlight, with a number of high profile and unrelated court cases involving players, club officials and referees.

In March, referee Pierre Saliba from Ħamrun was handed a two-year suspended sentence after he admitted to attempting to fix a decisive match for one of the top six spots in the local championship pool.

Mr Saliba was the second referee to be suspended by the MFA after the suspension of Mr Attard.

Earlier the same month, Marsaxlokk's assistant coach Peter Hartshorne and player Claude Mattocks admitted offering a bribe to Msida St Joseph goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri, who declined it.

In December, two players of Division One club St George's, Andrea Gatt and Lawrence Mizzi, were handed suspended sentences for bribery while Vittoriosa Stars vice-president Manwel Ancillieri is currently facing court proceedings on a similar charge.

Lawyer Michael Falzon appeared for Mr Attard while lawyer Kenneth Grima appeared for Mr Pelinku.