Former Albanian coach Ilir Pelinku and former FIFA referee Joe Attard were today convicted of trying to bribe a goalkeeper before an international club match in 2008.

Each were condemned to a suspended jail term and fined €500.

The Malta Football Association had imposed a life ban to both men in 2010 after their involvement in the attempt to rig the UEFA Cup preliminary round match between Marsaxlokk and Slaven Belupo of Croatia. A probe was launched soon after the match.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona heard how the two men had approached then Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin, asking him to give the visiting team a three goal advantage.

Mr Darmanin refused.

Marsaxlokk lost 4-0 defeat but the goalkeeper was exonerated by former MFA president Joe Mifsud who said that he was in no way involved and neither were any other Marsaxlokk officials.

In the judgment, Magistrate Micallef Trigona said that it was abundantly clear that on the day before the match, the accused had approached Mr Darmanin to get him to give Slaven Belupo a three goal advantage.

Mr Attard had received two phone calls on the day before the match, the first originating from a landline traced back to Mr Pelinku and the other from Mr Darmanin.

Police Inspector Angelo Gafa' prosecuted.

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