Magistrate orders that a copy of the judgment is to be sent to the MFA, to take any action it deems appropriate.
Ex-Sliema Wanderers player Ian Ciantar was acquitted of attempting to bribe teammate at that time Ian Azzopardi to throw a match against Qormi FC
Ian Ciantar, a former Sliema Wanderers footballer, has been finally acquitted of allegations that he attempted to bribe his teammate to lose a match against Qormi in the BOV Malta Premier towards the end of the 2009/10 season.
Police Inspector Maurice Curmi had charged Ciantar with offering a gift or financial incentive to teammate Ian Azzopardi on or around June 4, 2010.
The match in question took place on June 1, 2010, and ended in a 2–0 victory for Sliema Wanderers over Qormi FC.
Inspector Maurice Curmi testified that the case came to light following a report filed by then Sliema Wanderers President, Steve Abela. According to Abela, Azzopardi claimed that two days before the match, Ciantar offered him Lm1,000 (approximately €2,300) to influence the game’s outcome—a bribe which he refused.
When questioned, Ciantar denied the allegation and claimed Azzopardi had confided in him that the committee pressured him into filing the report.
In a TVM news report it was reported that additionaly to Ciantar and Azzopardi, testimonies were also heard from the former President, the team’s then-coach, and several players. Azzopardi remained firm in his claims, while Ciantar continued to reject the accusations.
After reviewing the evidence, Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech noted that although Ciantar said he had experienced emotional distress and felt ashamed to return to Sliema, he never pursued legal action against Azzopardi for defamation.
She pointed out inconsistencies in Azzopardi’s testimony and criticized the club’s handling of corruption allegations, calling it unprofessional and amateurish.
Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech was officially sworn in as Magistrate on October 29, 2015, and therefore it is evident that she carried this case of 15 years ago from a fellow Magistrate colleague.
Magistrate Frendo Dimech stated in her judgement that evidence suggested the club was willing to use threats, deception, and fabrication to paint certain individuals—two of whom were linked to the Malta Football Association (MFA)—as criminals. She said it was plausible that the club had pressured Azzopardi into making the allegation in order to protect his standing within the team.
Beyond Azzopardi’s inconsistencies, the Magistrate also cited a general lack of credibility and seriousness among some of the club’s leadership.
Although Azzopardi claimed he asked to meet Ciantar to clarify matters after the club expressed disbelief over his rejection of the alleged bribe, the court found no evidence supporting this claim. In fact, the findings indicated otherwise.
Furthermore, Azzopardi did not immediately report the incident, which allegedly took place during training, but only brought it up the following day. As per today’s legislation ‘Prevention of Corruption in Sport Act’ CAP 993, Ian Azzoaprdi was in due time to file his report as Article 5.1 states:
Any person who has knowledge, whether verbally, in writing, or otherwise, that an offence has been committed against any of the provisions of article 4, shall communicate such knowledge to the Commissioner of Police and, if he fails to do so within a period of fourteen days from the date on which he became aware of such fact, he shall be guilty of an offence
The court also heard that certain club officials may have attempted to entrap their own players. Magistrate Frendo Dimech said she could not ignore the defense’s argument that Azzopardi’s allegation may have been motivated by fear of losing his place in the team, particularly as he was already under scrutiny.
Consequently, the court found Ciantar not guilty of attempting to bribe Azzopardi and acquitted him of all charges. The Magistrate also ordered that a copy of the judgment be sent to the MFA, given that individuals with connections to the association had been implicated by name in the proceedings, to allow the MFA to take any action it deems appropriate.
