Former Malta national team coach Devis Mangia has again come under the spotlight after former Czech international Jakub Jankto made serious allegations in an emotional video posted on TikTok. Italian media and Malta reports picked up the video on 19 March 2026.
Jankto, who played under Mangia at Ascoli in Serie B, said in the TikTok clip that he had spent a long time thinking about whether to speak publicly before deciding to do so because he felt it was important to protect others. He referred to events from around a decade ago and described behaviour which he said had deeply affected him.
In the video, Jankto alleged that during their time at Ascoli, there were concerns about Mangia and a black teammate. He said the matter was eventually reported internally and claimed the club acted by removing the coach before the final match of the season.
@jakubjanktojr Grazie di pololo ascoli. ❤️
♬ původní zvuk – jakubjanktojr
The TikTok video quickly drew attention in Italy and beyond, not only because of the gravity of the claims, but also because it places Mangia’s name back at the centre of controversy after the issues that had already emerged during his spell in Malta.
Mangia was suspended by the Malta Football Association in 2022 following allegations involving players from the national team setup. The MFA later said its safeguarding process had found sufficient evidence of improper conduct, but not enough to uphold allegations of sexual harassment in that case.
Jankto’s latest claims are separate from the Malta case, but they add a further troubling layer to the wider discussion surrounding the former coach.
A former player for clubs including Udinese, Sampdoria, Torino and Cagliari, Jankto became the first active male international footballer to come out as gay in 2023. His decision to speak now, through a personal TikTok message, is therefore likely to resonate strongly across the football world.
At this stage, these remain allegations made publicly by Jankto in his TikTok video and reported by the media. Still, the footage has reignited scrutiny around Mangia and is likely to spark renewed debate both in Italy and in Malta.
