Life-ban for three players

Three players were handed a life-ban by the MFA Board to Investigate Corrupt Practices after being found guilty of match-fixing attempts. This was announced during a meeting of the Council of the Malta Football Association which was held on Monday.

The players are Hamrun Spartans player Gaetan Spiteri – who was on loan with Qormi this season – and Floriana players Jermain Brincat and Chris Brincat. Chris Brincat is a Floriana FC Futsal player and a member of the national Futsal team.

The two games which were investigated were the BOV Premier League 2011/12 match Sliema Wanderers vs Hamrun Spartans played on February 11th which ended in a 1-1 draw and the BOV First Division 2012/13 match between Naxxar Lions and Gzira United which was played on September 28 which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Former Sliema Wanderers player Julian Briffa, who played for Mqabba, was also charged over the game between Sliema and Hamrun. However although he was handed a life-ban, the MFA Prosecutor appealed for a partial pardon for the player considering that he collaborated fully with the investigations which led to the charging of a third party.

This partial pardon will be discussed during the Annual General Meeting which is usually held in July.

Meanwhile during the same Council meeting, it was announced that the MFA Prosecutor and the MFA Integrity Officer concluded investigations on the BOV Premier League matches between Balzan and Mosta which was played in December 2012 and the clash between Mosta and Birkirkara played in November 2012.

The conclusion on the report of the first game said that although something irregular might had happened, no one seemed to remember anything and therefore the case was archived. In the other game, the report said that there was no evidence of anything irregular and therefore this case was also archived.