The controversy surrounding Malta’s table tennis selections for the upcoming Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) took a new turn as national champion Gabriel Grixti publicly criticised Malta Table Tennis Association (MTTA) President John Sciberras, accusing him of acting unilaterally and contradicting his committee.
This follows Sciberras’ detailed statement issued earlier today, in which he defended the use of foreign-based athletes and the application of the Passport by Merit scheme, stressing the importance of technical development and long-term planning. He insisted the MTTA had worked within Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) guidelines and backed the technical director’s decisions regarding selection criteria. Sciberras also appealed for respectful discourse while reaffirming the association’s commitment to sports integrity.
However, Grixti swiftly responded on social media, calling out what he described as inconsistencies between Sciberras’ statement and the official communication sent by the MTTA Executive Council to its members just hours earlier. Grixti labelled the president’s position as “very ironic” and accused him of pursuing a personal agenda rather than acting in consultation with the broader committee.
The email, authored by Cleaven Mizzi, General Secretary and addressed to multiple MTTA officials, outlines the council’s strong disagreement with the selection process for GSSE 2025. It specifically condemns the granting of Maltese passports to foreign athletes solely to make them eligible for the games, asserting that the council was completely sidelined throughout the selection process. According to the council, it was not consulted, advised, or even informed about athlete nominations, a move they claim undermines transparency and collaboration.
The council’s statement makes clear that as Malta’s governing body for table tennis, the MTTA should be involved in national selection processes. It emphasises that representation must reflect long-term development, merit, and loyalty to the local sporting community.
Grixti, who was controversially excluded from the GSSE squad despite being the reigning national champion, has now escalated the dispute by publicly exposing the rift within the association. He also pointed out that Sciberras had no visible involvement in the sport before assuming the presidency last year, raising further questions about his influence on key decisions.
The latest developments highlight growing unrest within the MTTA ranks, as questions mount over transparency, fairness, and the broader governance of elite sports selection in Malta. Whether this dispute can be resolved ahead of the GSSE remains to be seen, but for now, Malta’s table tennis fraternity appears deeply divided.
