Marsaxlokk FC were relegated from the BOV Premier League to the BOV First Division and fined €4,000 after former club official Peter Hartshorne was found guilty of attempting to bribe a Msida St. Joseph player before the BOV Premier League match between Marsaxlokk FC and Msida St. Joseph played on November 23, 2008.
The Board to Investigate Corrupt Practices found Peter Hartshorne guility of attempting to bribe a person in order to influence the result of the BOV Premier League match between Marsaxlokk FC and Msida St. Joseph played on November 23, 2008. This was in breach of Article 114(i)(c) and (ii) of the MFA Handbook – “Prohibitions for Member Clubs and/or their Members.”
Hartshorne was given a life ban from any football activity and therefore could no longer be involved in some way or another in football.
Since Hartshorne was a member of the Marsaxlokk FC committee, Marsaxlokk are also found guilty of breaching Articles 114(i)(c) and (ii) and 115 of the MFA Handbook – “Prohibitions for Member Clubs and/or their Members.”
Therefore Marsaxlokk will be:
(a) relegated with immediate effect from the BOV Premier League to the BOV First Division
(b) fined €4,000. Until the payment of this fine, the Marsaxlokk FC first team will not be allowed to participate in MFA competitions.
During a meeting of the Council of the Malta Football Association which was held on August 31, the Council had decided to suspend the BOV Premier League temporarily and continue its meeting on September 17.
Therefore during next Thursday’s meeting a final decision will be taken on which teams will replace Vittoriosa Stars and Marsaxlokk FC in the BOV Premier League after the Council agreed that both the BOV Premier League and BOV First Division will be composed of ten clubs each.
Last month, Vittoriosa Stars were also demoted to Division 1 and fined €4,000 after they were found guilty of breaching the same articles.