Updated: Betting bombshell rocks Maltese Water Polo

Updated with ASA statement.

Malta’s water polo community is reeling after what sources describe as the “biggest scandal in Malta’s sporting history”, following revelations of betting activity involving players and individuals connected to the national team and domestic clubs.

A report drawn up by the Malta Gaming Authority was handed to the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport (AIMS) on Monday. In a damning indictment, AIMS flagged prima facie evidence of betting by individuals embedded within the sport, including wagers placed on Malta national-team fixtures.

Among those identified are national-team players linked to clubs including San Ġiljan and Sliema, alongside other individuals connected to Exiles, Birżebbuġa, Valletta and Marsascala, as well as a youth coach.

Sources who spoke to The Maltese Herald said that the players are well known and some have had a long career in the sport.

Significantly, the report highlights betting activity on Malta matches themselves, with some individuals placing wagers on specific markets such as handicaps, total goals, first to score and in-play events. In one instance, betting included a handicap market on a match between Serbia and Malta.

The scandal emerged during Malta’s participation at the European Championships in Serbia last January.

Biggest scandal in local water polo

While national-team players are understood not to have bet on matches in which they themselves were directly involved, three Maltese players placed bets on group matches against Montenegro, Hungary and France. A water polo coach also bet on the national team.

The report also points to unusual and, in some cases, suspicious betting patterns. These include repeated bets, early market engagement, and wagers placed on wide winning margins—indicators that AIMS says may suggest coordinated behaviour.

One San Ġiljan player alone is understood to have placed bets totalling more than €22,000 over a four-year period, while others wagered significantly smaller amounts, mainly between €20 and €200.

One individual connected to the sport is linked to betting within the Serbian water polo ecosystem, including activity through an account that may have been registered under an incorrect date of birth.

Three of the national team players identified are understood to play overseas.

Despite the findings, sources said the police have not, at this stage, identified grounds for criminal prosecution.

Athletes are barred from betting on competitions organized by ASA and European Aquatics

Under ASA rules, athletes, officials and club-affiliated individuals are prohibited from betting on competitions organised under its aegis, with breaches carrying suspensions ranging from one to three years.

At international level, European aquatics regulations provide for even stricter penalties, including bans of between two and four years, and potentially lifetime suspensions in the most serious cases.

AIMS has formally requested that the Aquatic Sports Association open disciplinary proceedings where appropriate, determine jurisdiction in each case, and preserve all relevant records, including team sheets and technical roles.

The authority stressed that its findings are preliminary and do not amount to a determination of guilt, but said the issues identified are serious enough to require immediate action.

Earlier this week, the ASA reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward any breaches of integrity, including betting-related misconduct, and said it will take all necessary measures to safeguard the sport’s image.

Any sanctions against the Maltese players could impact the national team’s preparations for the World Cup Division B, set to be held in Malta in April.

ASA issues statement

• Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sports (AIMS)
• European Aquatics
• World Aquatics