Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544415
A court has found 33-year-old footballer Jurgen Pisani guilty of attempting to manipulate a Malta Premier League foot- ball match played on 3 May 2024 between Santa Lucia and Birkirkara. Pisani had been charged under the Prevention of Cor- ruption in Sport Act in his capacity as an athlete. The first charge alleged he had in- volved himself in the manip- ulation of a sporting event. The second alleged that, having knowledge that such an offence had been commit- ted, he failed to report it to the Commissioner of Police within fourteen days. The court heard the match was the last Premier League fixture of the season. For Birkirkara, the result had no bearing on league objectives because the club had already qualified for a European competition. For Santa Lu- cia, however, the stakes were far higher: only a win would keep the club in the Premier League, while any other re- sult would mean relegation. The court noted that the Prevention of Corruption in Sport Act provides for mandatory imprisonment of between one and five years where aggravating circum- stances apply, and that pro- visions allowing for proba- tion or suspended sentences do not apply to such offenc- es. n Pisani's case, his status as a public officer was treated as an aggravating factor. The court stressed the serious- ness of match-fixing, stating that it "directly undermines Maltese sport" and that it must "send a message" that no leniency should be ex- pected. While Pisani's clean criminal record was taken into account, it only affected the length of the sentence. Hermann Mula's testimony Lawyer Hermann Mula, the Integrity Officer within the Malta Football Associa- tion, testified that on 6 May 2024 he was confidential- ly informed about possible match-fixing in that match. He was told he needed to speak to Birkirkara forward Maxuell Maia because Maia had information about what had happened on the pitch. WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT €1.00 WEDNESDAY • 15 APRIL 2026 • ISSUE 986 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY EDITORIAL • PAGE 11 Heritage watchdog warns proposed Birkirkara care home out of scale with village core THE Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) has issued strong objections to a large-scale retire- ment home proposed in the village core of Birkirkara, warning that the scheme would cause "irreversible" harm to the historic urban fabric due to its scale, demolition works and massing. The site earmarked for the home is uphill from Valley Road towards St Mary's Church, along Triq il-Knisja l-Qadima on partly unde- veloped and abandoned site oppo- site Villa Chelsea, just a few metres from the old church. The neigh- bouring buildings are primarily traditional two- or three-storey structures. The development, proposed by St Claire Limited, envisions a 110-room old people's home ris- ing over five floors, together with extensive underground excavation for four basement levels and a large car park of around 200 spaces. CONTINUES PAGE 5 WEDNESDAY EDITION CONTINUES PAGES 2-3 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Jurgen Pisani jailed 15 months over match fixing attempt Court finds defender Jurgen Pisani guilty of offering a €2,000 bribe to a Birkirkara striker during a crucial relegation clash MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt Jurgen Pisani