The Malta FA intends to speak to the police about an alleged match-fixing attempt in a recent UEFA club fixture involving a Maltese team.
Last Saturday, MFA president Joe Mifsud told council members and delegates present for the association's annual general meeting that foreign individuals and their Maltese accomplices had tried to rig a match held in Malta.
Speaking during a conference call at the Centenary Hall announcing a three-year sponsorship renewal with Maltco Lotteries for the Knock-Out competitions, Dr Mifsud said that preliminary investigations carried out by the association showed that none of the persons implicated in the case are members of the local governing body of football.
"From our enquiries, it has emerged that none of the suspected perpetrators form part of the Malta FA," Dr Mifsud said.
"As the persons behind this match-fixing ploy are not members of our association, we can only refer the matter to the police. In the coming days, we intend to hold talks with the relevant authorities on how this case should be tackled."
Dr Mifsud refrained from naming the match at the centre of this controversy as he believes this could hamper investigations.
Three matches from the UEFA club competitions have been played in Malta so far this season. In June, Hibernians hosted NK Gorica in the Intertoto Cup. Earlier this month, Valletta faced Slovakia's Artmedia Petrzalka in a Champions League first round qualifier while Marsaxlokk played Croatian side Slaven Koprivnica in a UEFA Cup first qualifying round tie.
Meanwhile, the Malta FA yesterday announced the signing of a three-year contract extension with Maltco Lotteries. The betting company has sponsored the MFA's KO competitions for senior teams for the past three years and Dr Mifsud described their partnership as very satisfying for both parties.
"Such agreements are fundamental to the progress of Maltese football," Dr Mifsud said.
"Maltco Lotteries have been sponsoring the FA Trophy and the knock-out competition for clubs in Division Two and Three for the past three seasons and the results have been positive for both sides. From this season, Maltco have agreed to include the First Division Knock-Out in the new sponsorship deal."
This season, the Maltco Lotteries Division One Knock-Out will be played under a new format. The 10 participating sides were yesterday split into two groups of five teams with the top two from each section progressing to the semi-finals.
The Quick Keno Division II/III KO will retain the same format as last season. Gozo FC are among the 31 teams taking part in the Knock-Out competition for teams in the third and fourth tier of Maltese football.
Knock-out Draws
Maltco Lotteries Division One
Group 1: Pietà Hotspurs, Mqabba, Rabat Ajax, Vittoriosa Stars, Dingli Swallows.
Group 2: St Patrick, St George's, San Ġwann, Senglea Athletics, Mosta.
The opening round of the Division One Knock-Out will be played between September 13 and October 12.
Quick Keno Division II/III
Group 1: Pembroke Athleta, Mġarr United, Luqa SA, St Andrews.
Group 2: Żebbuġ Rangers, Qrendi FC, Birżebbuġa, Mtarfa.
Group 3: Attard, Balzan Youths, Xgħajra Tornadoes, Marsa.
Group 4: Gozo FC, Għargħur, Sta Venera, Żejtun Corinthians.
Group 5: Kalkara, Naxxar Lions, Żurrieq, Mdina Knights.
Group 6: Fgura United, Sirens, Melita, Gżira United.
Group 7: Sta Luċija, Għaxaq, Kirkop United, Mellieħa.
Group 8: Siġġiewi, Gudja, Lija Athletic.
The preliminary round group matches will be played between September 3 and 21.