UEFA calls for life ban on Kevin Sammut, appeals acquittal of two other players

While lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha and Emanuel Mallia filed an appeal in a bid to revoke a 10-year ban on their client Kevin Sammut, UEFA has now appealed its own judicial board's decision, and is calling for a life ban.

Malta international and Valletta FC midfielder Kevin Sammut,  known as 'Viper' was last month handed a 10-year world-wide ban on football after he was found guilty  of match-fixing during an international qualifier between Malta and Norway.

Two other players, Kenneth Scicluna and Stephen Wellman, who were acquitted of charges due to lack of evidence, are also facing an appeal by UEFA, who is calling for their conviction.

The Maltese police had started investigating allegations of a fixed match between Norway and Malta last year, when the claims first surfaced during a match-fixing trial in Germany.

Croat Marijo Cvrtak, a convicted member of a notorious Croatian betting syndicate, had identified the Euro 2008 qualifier between Malta and Norway as one of the rigged matches. The match had ended with Malta being beaten by Norway 4-0 in Oslo.

The MFA had also carried out a three-month inquiry, during which more than 30 persons were interviewed. The investigation was detailed in a 500-page dossier that has been passed on to UEFA in March.