ASA appoint Herman Mula as Integrity Officer

The Aquatic Sports Association has appointed Herman Mula as their first-ever integrity officer, the governing body announced in a statement on Monday.

Mula, who also serves as integrity officer of the Malta Football Association, is a lawyer and former police inspector.

He joins the ASA at a sensitive time for the association, after it was revealed that a number of Malta water polo players are being investigated for illegal betting during the European Water Polo Championships.

The ASA had already announced some weeks ago that Mula would be handling communication regarding the case on its behalf.

The ASA said his appointment shows its commitment towards good governance, transparency, and accountability in aquatic sports.

“The Aquatic Sports Association is proud to announce the engagement of Dr Herman Mula as its Integrity Officer,” the ASA said in a statement.

“This marks an important milestone for us as an organization. The introduction of the Integrity Officer role continues to demonstrate our firm commitment to good governance, transparency, and accountability in aquatic sports.

“As our sport continues to grow and evolve, we recognize that strong ethical foundations are essential to protecting our athletes, officials, coaches, and stakeholders, while safeguarding the reputation and credibility of our Association.

“We believe that integrity in sport goes beyond compliance – it is about fostering a culture grounded in fairness, respect, responsibility, and trust. By engaging Dr. Mula in this role, we are strengthening our governance structures and aligning our operations with international best practices in sports administration.”

Times of Malta revealed earlier this year that some national team players are suspected of having placed bets on the goal difference of Malta’s opening game at the European Championship against Montenegro.

The players, believed to be around four in total, are suspected of having allegedly planned to manipulate the match in a way to ensure the final score met the specific requirements of their bets and win them the money.

World Aquatics and European Aquatics, the sport’s two highest global authorities, are also involved in the probe. Officials from both organisations have met with Maltese investigators and are also looking into the allegations.