13 water polo players, coach could face charges for betting on European Championship matches

Thirteen Maltese water polo players and a coach could face charges for betting on matches at the European Championship finals played in Belgrade last January, the Times of Malta has learnt.

Six to seven of the players form part of the national team, which secured 13th place in the championship.

Last week, the Malta Gaming Authority provided a detailed report to the police, with sources saying it listed the names of 14 individuals who had placed bets on matches from the European Championship finals.

None of the suspects are believed to have bet on Malta matches.

Although betting on sports is not a crime for the public, it is strictly prohibited for athletes under international sporting codes. Athletes are generally prohibited from betting on matches within their own sport.

Should the European Aquatics Association find the water polo players and a coach (not linked to the national team) guilty of betting on matches from the European Championship finals, they risk being suspended between two and four years from all competitions.

The European Aquatics Association has been in close touch with the Maltese authorities since a Times of Malta report in January revealed that an investigation had been launched into possible betting.

Since then, the investigation has expanded, with investigators now suspecting more people than previously thought may have been involved in illicit betting. The International Olympic Committee is believed to have also written to the Maltese authorities.

The European governing body has asked the Malta police to provide all information gathered during its investigation so it can analyse the data and decide whether to issue charges against the persons involved in the case.

The Authority for Integrity in Malta Sport (AIMS) reported the betting allegations to the police in January, sparking a review by the Malta Gaming Authority.

According to the European Aquatics Integrity Code, a player or coach is prohibited from making bets on a match from any official event, irrespective of whether he is participating in the competition or not.

Additionally, a player or coach may not encourage or instruct another person to place a bet on their behalf, or to place a bet on behalf of another individual.

Any sanctions of the Maltese players could have an impact on the national team’s preparations for the World Cup Division B to be held in Malta in April.