Joe Sammut, the president of Premier League club Pietà Hotspurs, yesterday presented an affidavit at the Malta FA offices in reply to the pugnacious comments made by Franz Tabone, the Malta FA integrity officer, in his January newsletter.

Tabone captured the headlines last month after he wrote 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,” incensed club officials, prompting Adrian Delia, the vice-president of Birkirkara FC and member of the Premier League Standing Committee, to call on Tabone “to provide proof to back his claims or else withdraw his allegations”.

In his affidavit, Sammut declared that he “has never been involved in any match-fixing activity or any other activity related to personal gain or to favour his club”.

Other presidents of Premier League clubs are expected to make sworn declarations in the coming days to rebut Tabone’s allegations.