Match fixing: convicted soldier with bribery history, two U-21 players facing charges

Charges filed against defender Emanuel Briffa, 22, of Floriana FC, midfielder Kyle Cesare, 20, of Pietà Hotspur and AFM solider Ronnie Mackay, 34

Montenegro defeated Malta 1-0 during the March U21 qualifier. Cesare and Briffa are numbered 2 and 17, respectively. (Photo: D. Micallef/MFA).
Montenegro defeated Malta 1-0 during the March U21 qualifier. Cesare and Briffa are numbered 2 and 17, respectively. (Photo: D. Micallef/MFA).

Two Under-21 national squad players will reportedly face match-fixing charges in connection with last March’s UEFA championship qualifier against Montenegro, The Times of Malta reports.

Police were said to have filed charges against defender Emanuel Briffa, 22, of Floriana FC, midfielder Kyle Cesare, 20, of Pietà Hotspur and an Armed Forces of Malta solider Ronnie Mackay, 34, of St Julian’s, last week.

The charges follow the admission by 21-year-old footballer Seyble Zammit, a former youth player for Valletta FC, to having organised the rigging of an away Malta U-21 match against Montenegro. He was exempted from punishment for having collaborated with the police.

Briffa made his debut with the senior national squad in November 2015 in a friendly against Jordan. Mackay is being considered to be Seyble Zammit’s accomplice.

In 2014, Mackay and two other AFM soldiers were convicted of attempted theft from a Victoria showroom and sentenced to 18 months in jail. Robert Agius, 42, of San Gwann, and Daniel Vella, of Nadur, both AFM soldiers, were jailed for 13 months suspended for three years.

In December 2013, Mackay also stood accused of bribing Naxxar player Sunday Eboh prior to a First Division game against Gzira in September 2012.