Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544415
MATCH fixing is a serious offence because of its far-reach- ing consequences that transcend the particular event or match under scrutiny. Match fixing harms honest athletes and erodes public trust in what should be a fair competitive environment. It undermines the sporting spirit and creates an unfair air of suspicion every time an athlete commits a genuine mistake, or simply has an off day on the pitch. Protecting the integrity of sports is crucial and within this context, the size of the bribe is irrelevant. Wheth- er the bribe is €100, €2,000 or €15,000, it is the value of what is being undermined that determines the seri- ousness of the crime. Trust, honesty, sportsmanship are priceless values and any attempt to corrupt them should be met with severity, especially if the person doing so enjoys a position of trust in the field. This message was conveyed very clearly by the Mag- istrate's Court on Tuesday in the match fixing case in- volving Jurgen Pisani. The 33-year-old footballer was found guilty of attempting to manipulate a Malta Pre- mier League football match in May 2024 between Santa Lucia and Birkirkara. His offence was aggravated by the fact that he works as a physical education teacher. The court handed down a 15-month effective jail term, disqualified Pisani from participating in or attending any sporting event, and from being present on the premises of any sporting organisation for a period of 10 years. The magistrate also ordered his general perpetual interdic- tion. The judgment is subject to appeal but its severi- ty speaks volumes about the seriousness of the crime, especially in the context of this being perpetrated by a teacher of physical education, nonetheless. But some of the social media reactions to the court judgment have been incredible with some slamming the court for coming down hard because in their eyes the crime was a "ċuċata" ("silly mistake"). Others disagreed with the effective jail term, calling it excessive. We disagree that match fixing is a ċuċata; it is a serious crime and unless we start treating it so, it will continue to blight Maltese sports—whether for real or percep- tion-wise. As to the imposition of an effective jail term, the court explained that its hands were tied by the law since the crime was aggravated by the fact that the accused was a public officer employed as a supply teacher. In such a circumstance, the law provides for a mandatory prison sentence. Whether the courts should be given more leeway when deciding whether to impose an effective jail term or not is a matter that should be revisited in due course with- out diluting the seriousness of the crime. But that debate must not be guided by the usual cackle of social media commenters and faux do-gooders, who are shocked whenever the court comes down hard on people found guilty of the crime they are accused of. And then there were those who engaged in what- aboutism: 'What about rapists, who are set free?'; 'What about politicians accused of corruption? What about perpetrators of domestic violence, who get a suspended sentence?'. These arguments are not entirely misplaced but they should not distract from the gravity of sports corruption. If anything, the argument should be that tougher penal- ties should be introduced for other crimes deemed to be more serious. Match fixing like other white-collar crimes is a vic- timless crime because there is no visible injured party. But this does not make it any less serious than other crimes where the victim or victims are persons. If any- thing, society and the wider community are the victims of white-collar crimes. When those accused of corruption in the Vitals hospi- tals saga did what they did, all of society suffered because the promised facilities never materialised and the State kept forking out money on a dead deal. The same holds water for match fixing. When a footballer decides to cor- rupt another footballer, it is supporters, honest football- ers and clubs that are cheated because the very essence of what sports should stand for has been attacked. It is not OK to cheat on or off the pitch and this is a message that should be drilled home at every level of the sports hierarchy. Match fixing is a serious crime because it erodes trust, honesty, sportsmanship maltatoday MaltaToday, MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN EXECUTIVE EDITOR: KURT SANSONE DEPUTY PRINT EDITOR: LAURA CALLEJA Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt 11 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 15 APRIL 2026 EDITORIAL It is not OK to cheat on or off the pitch and this is a message that should be drilled home at every level of the sports hierarchy