MTTA says it has heard nothing about probe in over seven months
The Malta Table Tennis Association (MTTA) has confirmed that it has been suspended by the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) but said they have heard nothing about the probe from the Malta Olympic Committee in the past seven months.
In a press release issued on Friday, the MTTA questioned the motives behind the MOC suspension and said it has reported its former president to the police for failing to hand over banking information and association property.
“The MTTA rejects any allegation of wrongdoing or misconduct,” it said.
Times of Malta revealed on Sunday that national sporting authorities have suspended the MTTA amid raft of allegations, ranging from financial irregularities to failure to report a former committee member to the police for inappropriate sexual behaviour. The suspension was enforced by the MOC and effectively halted the association’s formal standing within Malta’s sporting framework.
In its statement, the MTTA said it was suspended last summer.
“On 14 July 2025, MTTA was informed by MOC that it was being suspended because it was subject to ‘ongoing investigations’ by the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations (OCVO) and the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport (AIMS). MTTA was not given any indication as to what for it was being investigated the MTTA statement said.
It said the suspension notification came a few weeks after it held an extraordinary general meeting “during which meeting a vote of no confidence was passed against MTTA’s former President and former Vice-President.”
MTTA claimed that the ousted president, John Sciberras, had been appointed to the role directly by the MOC. However, evidence obtained by Times of Malta indicates that Sciberras was nominated by two officials of different table tennis clubs, Noel Schembri and Johanna Grech.
The association said it has filed a criminal complaint against Sciberras to try and obtain “banking information and property” belonging to it. It said it accepted eight membership fees in cash “temporarily” until it regained access to its bank accounts.
The MTTA also addressed concerns about its former committee member, who faces allegations of sexual misconduct.
It said that the person in question is now subject to a lifetime ban from any MTTA activities, following investigation.
“This, even though the alleged incident occurred on University of Malta grounds during a badminton session and was not related to any table tennis activity,” the MTTA said.
“The individual concerned has since then appealed this decision, and MTTA is in the process of finalising the composition of its appeals board, which composition was delayed due to administrative and leadership transitions beyond the association’s control.
“MTTA takes any allegation relating to sexual misconduct seriously and has every interest in ensuring that this appeal is determined and that any proceedings which may be filed by any injured party be concluded.
“Furthermore, MTTA is not aware of any ongoing safeguarding risk in relation to this matter, particularly given that the member remains suspended to date.”
While the association said that the person in question will face an MTTA-appointed appeals board, Times of Malta is informed that the appeals process will be led by an appeals board set up by the MOC at the request of the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations.
Correspondence seen by Times of Malta indicates that the MTTA has refused to recognise this board, forcing the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations to intervene and inform the association that it was obliged to comply with the decision.
