Depiro disassociate from team’s behaviour against Hibernians

Mtarfa club mulling over coach Bamfield resignation

Depiro BC have refuted claims of match-fixing during their final regular-season game against Hibernians, particularly the final six minutes which marred the BOV Men’s League season’s end before the start of the playoffs.

The Mtarfa club issued a press release late Monday, explaining that the club has held an internal investigation following the news breaking out and that it has disassociated itself from the behaviour shown by the team.

“Depiro Basketball Club reaffirms its core values and good work achieved over the past years towards supporting the development of basketball in Malta. Following the match against Hibernians, the club investigated the matter and disassociates itself from a certain attitude shown by the team during the last few minutes of the game,” the press release read.

“The Committee was not previously aware of any approach that could have been relevant to the team’s performance during the match, but it resulted to the club that allegations of potential match-fixing are unfounded.”

This follows another statement made by Hibs who categorically denied any wrongdoing throughout the game.

Following an internal investigation, Depiro’s committee in a statement has said it “called on its head coach James Bamfield for an explanation, and the latter has since offered his resignation” but iterated there was no match-fixing, simply the wrong attitude 🔵🟡

— Kurt Aquilina (@14Aquilina) March 28, 2022

Depiro went further to say that the committee had asked coach James Bamfield for an explanation, to which the Wales National Team coach then offered his resignation. While the club has not yet finalised its decision, it is believed it will “be communicating its definitive position on its head coach in due course.”

Both Depiro and Hibernians will be required to comply with a Malta Basketball Association probe following the incident with the outcome to be decided after a way forward is established on Monday at an emergency Council meeting.