MFA's groundsman

The only reply possible to the question posed by the Malta Football Association as reported in The Times (May 10) of "in a long life, if someone is found guilty only once of corrupting a minor, should one be labelled a paedophile?" is an emphatic yes.

For the courts to have returned this man back into society on a suspended sentence, without the requirement to seek help, is bad enough, but for the MFA to retain his services for four months after they were informed of his conviction beggars belief.

The MFA tries to shift the blame onto the head of the Paola school who were given the use of the ground. However, it was the MFA who employed this man and therefore their responsibility to ensure the protection of the youngsters using it. Even more disgraceful is their action in withdrawing the permit for the school to use the ground.

Instead of sacking the paedophile and hiring a groundsman with a clean criminal record, the MFA deprived many school children of a badly needed recreational facility.

Congratulations to Joe Gerada for going public on Xarabank and shame on the Malta Football Association.