Former MFA president insists current president leaked contract to media

Former President of the Malta Football Association, Joe Mifsud, told the court that he had no doubt that current MFA president Norman Darmanin Demajo was “the snake” who leaked the contract signed with Bayern Munich to the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

Earlier this month, the newspaper claimed to have seen a “secret contract” between former MFA President Joe Mifsud and Franz Beckenbauer, the head of Germany's 2006 World Cup organising committee, which saw the Maltese FA earn $250,000 five weeks before a crucial vote on the host of the 2006 World Cup.

At the time, Mifsud held a seat on FIFA’s executive committee that eventually awarded the 2006 World Cup to Germany. Beckenbauer was Bayern Munich president, as well as the head of the organising committee that spearheaded the German bid.

Malta voted for Germany to host the 2006 tournament, in a vote that Germany marginally won by 12-11 against South Africa, and the Daily Mail suggested that Beckenbauer was “complicit in influencing the votes of FIFA’s executive committee”. 

The investigation said that the deal was struck after a secret meeting was held between Beckenbauer and Mifsud at the latter’s private residence.

Mifsud was testifying in a libel case he instituted against Darmanin Demajo after the latter called on the association to investigate Mifsud on alleged corruption, misappropriation of funds and breaching the MFA’s statute

During a cross-examination by lawyer Chris Bonnett, Mifsud denied any allegations of corruption and said that he always made sure that the MFA got as much financial back up as possible, but insisted that he “never received a penny”.

Mifsud clarified that the deal was signed with CWL, not Bayern Munich.

The court heard how the contract between CWL and MFA, regarding a Bayern Munich Football Match in Malta, was signed in Mifsud’s residence in Qrendi. This, he added, was not the usual practice.

“It is possible that I had invited CWL representatives for a drink,” Mifsud said, adding that they came with the contract ready.

Mifsud said he could not remember if Franz Beckenbauer, who at the time was President of the Bayern Munich Club, was present. The deal was to set up the game and sell rights to different stations, former MFA chief explained.

Darmanin Demajo’s defense lawyer asked how it was possible that they proposed to set up a game with Bayern Munich when the contract was already printed that same day.

The defence asked why Mifsud informed the Board about this contract after four months. Mifsud said he didn’t know why, adding that it was probably because he and Darmanin Demajo were clashing at the time.

Mifsud said that all of the contracts were covered by a confidentiality clause. The defense argued however that the clause on the Bayern Munich contract was tighter. Mifsud claimed that though the wording might be different, the level of confidentiality remained the same.

Lawyer Chris Bonnett told the court that CWL was a subsidiary of a German company who had television rights for the World Cup of 2006. Bonnett added that this same contract was signed just a month before Germany earned the right to organize the World Cup.  The court was presided by Magistrate Francesco Depascuale.

The case continuous on 30 November.