Dirty soccer sting: Farrugia said Chinese gamblers wanted to kill his brother

Transcripts from an Italian sting on an international network of illegal betting on Italy’s Serie D and Lega Pro (fourth and third division respectively) football leagues, have revealed a conversation between the former Msida St Joseph FC president Robert Farrugia and Italian national Felice Bellini, over tens of thousands in euros lost on a low-level match.

According to the transcript, published in the Italian press and La Gazzetta dello Sport, Robert Farrugia – identified as a financier of the betting system by Catanzaro police – is heard telling Bellini that his brother Adrian was being threatened with his life by Chinese gamblers who had lost €52,000.

The bet was played on low-level match Aversa Normanna and Barletta, and Robert Farrugia is allegedly heard complaining that the reason for the unexpected 0-1 Barletta win was the fault of team coach Ninni Corda – who was also arrested in Operation Dirty Soccer.

Farrugia is heard blaming Corda, demanding with Bellini that the coach refunds the €52,000 lost on the match bet. He says that some Chinese gamblers had lost €52,000 and that his brother was risking big because of the loss.

Farrugia, who has not yet been arrested by police, has told La Repubblica that the allegations are “all false” and that he has nothing to do with the network of illegal betting.

Bellini came to Malta acting as a technical director for teams like Qormi United, Gudja FC, and then Vittoriosa Stars. The latter team has disassociated itself from Bellini and former coach Arturo di Napoli, also earmarked in the arrests.

Translated from the Italian: the transcript released by Catanzaro police

Farrugia: Listen, you realise that the Chinese want to kill my brother?

Bellini: Of course they’re not, they want to take back their money… what would they kill him for, they’d kill him not to get their money back, what do they need your brother for… I mean, I would have to claw back €100,000… €102,000 to be precise. Haven’t we lost here? I mean, it was a bad call. What would I kill someone for? What the hell am I going to get back?

Farrugia: Yeah right… I won’t just kill one…

Bellini: Sure, kill three or four… maybe they’ll kill you too then!

Farrugia: No problem, if someone touches my brother… I’ll kill you…

Bellini: You’re going to kill who??

Farrugia: Yeah… you. Wait, you’re with me aren’t you?

Bellini: Now listen Robert… I’m no puppet here, you cannot speak to me like this.

Farrugia: The problem isn’t between us…

Bellini: So?

Farrugia: The problem is that idiot we spoke to…

Bellini: There is a problem and I want it resolved…. He is my friend as much as you are…

Farrugia: If…

Bellini: He's my friend and he did not run away, he hasn't ran off, he admitted to the error…