In an effort to enhance their existing collaboration, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the Malta Football Association (FA) signed a Data Sharing Agreement on December 5th at the Malta Football Association headquarters in Ta’ Qali, Malta.
The Agreement, which came into force on the same day, allows both parties to share data and exchange information for the prevention and investigation of match-fixing and other corruption incidents in sports.
The importance of the document was emphasized by the MGA Chief Executive Officer, Heathcliff Farrugia, who stated: “This Data Sharing Agreement follows a number of MoUs signed by the MGA with other regulatory bodies throughout 2019, and also ties in perfectly with MGA’s recent establishment of a dedicated Sports Integrity Unit. The Authority is committed to ensure that this agreement is not limited to data sharing, but also sharing of ideas and best practices for the benefit of both entities”.
Bjorn Vassallo, the President of Malta FA also stated that: “The Malta FA has a very good relationship with the MGA as strategic partners in the fight against corruption in sports. The Malta FA was the catalyst behind the Anti-Corruption Task Force in 2015 which eventually led to the introduction of the Prevention of Corruption in Sport Bill and the formation of a national Sports Integrity Unit.
This Data Sharing Agreement represents another important step to further strengthen the Malta FA’s efforts to tackle match-fixing within its regulatory limits at sporting level. It enables the MGA and the Malta FA to share not only crucial data but also expertise”.
