The off-field headaches for the Malta FA this season know no bounds as the latest case of alleged match-fixing attempts surfaced this week.

Informed sources at the MFA confirmed that Division Three club Sta Luċija had launched a protest against the result of last Sunday's promotion play-off against Żurrieq, which the latter won 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

Sta Luċija are claiming that on Sunday a club official from Żurrieq approached one of their players at the end of normal time and offered him a bribe to throw the match. The player turned down the offer and the official was ordered off the pitch.

Sta Luċija have also reported the case to the police.

In their protest, Sta Luċija are requesting the MFA to cancel the result of the play-off at the Centenary Stadium and award them the victory, which means promotion to Division Two.

The MFA Board to Investigate Corrupt Practices is currently facing a backlog of alleged bribery cases, involving match officials and club officials, most of which triggered off several weeks ago by a series of anonymous letters mailed to the association and the police.

Among the pending cases is the one of referee Joe Attard and coach Ilir Pelinku. Earlier this month they were charged in court with trying to bribe Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin in a UEFA Cup match against Slaven Belupo, of Croatia.

In March, referee Pierre Saliba admitted to attempting to fix a match in the Premier League. He was handed a two-year suspended sentence by court.

Also in March, Peter Hartshorne, Marsaxlokk assistant coach, and midfielder Claude Mattocks were charged in court with offering a bribe to goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri which the latter refused. They admitted their involvement and got a suspended jail term and fined €500 each.

In another case that rocked Maltese football this season, St George's goalkeeper Andrea Gatt and team-mate Lawrence Mizzi pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe.

They were handed suspended sentences but Manwel Ancilleri, the vice president of the other club involved, Vittoriosa Stars, is still facing proceedings in court.