Several Malta waterpolo players investigated over alleged match-fixing at Euros

Updated January 17

A number of Malta national team waterpolo players are being investigated for allegedly betting on their own matches at the European Championships, Times of Malta has learned.

Sources close to the investigation said the players, who are currently in Belgrade playing the tournament finals, are suspected of having placed bets on the goal difference of Malta's opening game against Montenegro last Saturday.

The players, believed to be around four in total, are suspected of having allegedly planned to manipulate the match in a way to ensure the final score met the specific requirements of their bets and win them the money.

Malta lost that match with a score of 21-12.

At this stage, the Malta vs Montenegro encounter appears to be the sole match under investigation.

However, sources have indicated that Malta’s subsequent match against France could also fall under scrutiny should further information emerge.

All the players under suspicion participated in Friday’s match against Israel.

European Aquatics, the European governing body for aquatic sports and organiser of the European championship, told Times of Malta that it was aware of reports about the alleged match-fixing but has not yet received any official communication about it.  

"However, we take any attempt to manipulate match results extremely seriously and with zero tolerance so any complaint related to the European Water Polo Championships will be addressed by the European Aquatics’ Integrity Unit," a spokesperson said. 

If substantiated, the allegations would represent a serious blow to the reputation of Maltese waterpolo, particularly at a time when the sport has made significant progress and gained increased visibility on the international stage in recent years.

The national team is playing at the 100-year anniversary edition of the Men’s European Waterpolo Championship in Serbia. Running from January 10 to 25, the tournament features 16 of Europe’s elite national teams, including traditional powerhouses like Spain and Hungary.

For Malta, the competition was intended to be a benchmark for progress on the international stage.

AIMS investigating case

Times of Malta is informed the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sports (AIMS) is investigating the case.

When contacted for comment, the authority, however, said it could neither confirm nor deny the existence of any investigation at this stage.

Questions have been sent to the Malta police and European Aquatics, the governing entity and organiser of the European Championships. 

'God forbid they're true'

Contacted for comment, Aquatic Sports Association of Malta (ASA) president Karl Izzo said no official report had been filed with the ASA but said he hoped the allegations were not true.

"God forbid they are true, because that would tarnish the hard work that the association has done to push the sport forward over the past years," he said.

“The ASA firmly upholds the principles of integrity, transparency, and fair play, which are fundamental to sport at all levels,” Izzo said.

“While we take any allegation of this nature seriously, it is imperative to emphasise that allegations remain allegations unless and until established through due process by the competent authorities.

"The ASA reiterates its full commitment to cooperate openly and fully with all relevant national and international authorities should any investigation be formally initiated or any request for assistance be made.

He said the association will take all necessary measures within its remit to safeguard the integrity of the sport and to ensure accountability, should this be required.

This would mark the third high-profile instance in the past two decades in which a Maltese national team has been linked to a match-fixing or betting investigation.

In 2011, the Malta national football team became embroiled in a match-fixing scandal involving a Croatian betting syndicate, which fixed the outcome of a Euro 2008 qualifier against Norway in Oslo.

Five years later, in 2016, six Malta Under-21 footballers were banned by UEFA after being found guilty of influencing the results of two European Championship qualifying matches against Montenegro and the Czech Republic.