UEFA bans Malta youth players for match-fixing

UEFA, football’s governing body in Europe, has issued bans to six Malta under-21 players after finding them guilty of match-fixing.

The bans come in relation to activities during Malta’s UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2017 qualification matches against Montenegro on March 23, 2016, and the Czech Republic on March 29 in the same year.

Emanuel Briffa and Kyle Cesare have both been handed lifetime bans from the professional game after the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body ruled they “acted in a manner that is likely to exert an unlawful or undue influence on the course and/or result of a match or competition with a view to gaining an advantage for himself or a third party”.

Samir Arab will serve a two-year ban from football after “not immediately and voluntarily informing UEFA if approached in connection with activities aimed at influencing in an unlawful or undue manner the course and/or result of a match or competition”.

Ryan Camenzuli has been given an 18-month for the same offence, while both Llywelyn Cremona and Luke Montebello will also serve 12-month bans for breaching this rule.

UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body also investigated Matthew Cremona, but opted to disclose disciplinary proceedings against the player, leaving him free to participate in football activities.

Speaking after the ruling, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin described match-fixing “a disease that attacks football’s very core”.

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