Sliema Wanderers issue statement over Simon Agius case

Following the judicial protest filed by goalkeeper Simon Agius against Sliema Wanderers president Steve Abela, secretary Mario Debono and treasurer Mark Migneco, coach Mark Marlow and public relations officer Ivan Calleja, the club issued a statement in which they categorically denied that the club or any of its officials had spread rumours about Simon Agius or his family. The club also denied that its officials failed to approach police over any case of corruption.

The statement said that in view of Tuesday’s game, the team was staying at a hotel when Simon Agius asked to meet club officials. The meeting was held on Monday night, lasting until early on Tuesday morning.

Committee members came to know that in the middle of the night, Agius left the hotel without telling anyone and then heard the news through the media that he had filed a judicial protest against them. The club said that such behaviour was unacceptable just a few hours before such a decisive game.

The club stressed that contrary to what Agius alleged, neither the club nor its officials had alleged or gave the impression that Agius could have been involved in a case of corruption.

“It was only Agius himself who was making such claims, for reasons unknown to the club, who made the issue public, and failed to honour his contract with the club,” said the statement.

The club announced that it will be making a formal complaint to the Malta Football Association about Simon Agius’s behaviour and his unilateral violation of the contract.