Date: 26 February 2026
PRESS RELEASE
The Malta Table Tennis Association (MTTA) refers to the recent articles published in
newspapers and on social media relating to its suspension by the Maltese Olympic
Committee (MOC), notably by Times of Malta on 22 February 2026 and Lovin Malta on 25
February 2026 and the inaccuracies and allegations therein reported.
MTTA was neither granted adequate time to respond to the questions put forward to it
before the publication of the first article nor was it consulted before the publication of the
other and is therefore issuing this press release to rectify the facts.
Suspension
While MTTA confirms that it has been suspended by MOC, it deems it imperative to address
the inaccuracies and allegations reported.
On 14 July 2025, MTTA was informed by MOC that it was being suspended because it was
subject to ‘ongoing investigations’ by the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary
Organisations (OCVO) and the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport (AIMS). MTTA was
not given any indication as to what for it was being investigated.
For this reason, any implication that MTTA was suspended ‘amid a raft of allegations’, as
has been reported, is misleading and at the very least inaccurate.
It is also pertinent to note that MTTA has to date, seven months later, not received any
form of notice of any investigation whatsoever from the MOC or from any authority and has
not been summoned to forward clarifications and or explanations, leading MTTA to
question the motivation behind its suspension altogether.
The public should be made aware that the timing of its suspension too raises a number of
questions since the suspension was issued a few weeks after an extraordinary general
meeting (EGM) held on 26 June 2025, during which meeting a vote of no confidence was
passed against MTTA’s former President and former Vice-President. For the record, it
should also be known that the ousted President had occupied this role after being
nominated to the post by MOC itself.
The principal reason leading to the convening of the EGM was the then President’s
repeated failure to involve Executive Council members in key administrative and
operational decisions of the MTTA, choosing instead to act unilaterally. This included his
decision to contradict a Council-approved statement through a post on the Association’s
social media, issued shortly after the MTTA had formally expressed its disagreement with
the selection of athletes for the Maltese team at the 2025 Games of the Small States of
Europe. In doing so, he avoided a public position that would have challenged the MOC.
The EGM vote result was unequivocal: 93 members were present, 89 of whom voted in
favour, 2 against and another 2 abstained.
MTTA declares that its suspension is not only unfounded but also disproportionate.
Numerous attempts have been made to meet with MOC Executive Board and the
opportunity to address the MOC General Assembly both of which were refused with
justifications that did not relate to the original stated grounds for the suspension.
Reports on Financial Irregularities
MTTA also deems it imperative to clarify the allegations that is has irregularly accepted
membership fees in cash, contrary to its statute. In the first place, MTTA declares that the
former President failed to hand over banking information and property of the Association
following the EGM of 26 June 2025 to the extent that today, some of its property has not
been returned and it has been forced to file a criminal complaint against him to obtain
access to them.
As a result of this fact, that these bank accounts could not be managed, MTTA had
temporarily accepted 8 membership fees in cash until MTTA retained access to its bank
accounts.
There is no allegation as regards the use of the funds and the spin circulated is clearly
stemming from the fact that one has not accepted the democratic process in place and is
clearly using the MOC to undermine this process.
Furthermore, the media has either omitted to report (or is otherwise not informed) of the
fact that in that time the current council had no access to its accounts, a payment was made
by MOC, from said accounts to the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) and this without its
knowledge or consent. MTTA will not speculate at this stage why this payment was carried
out.
Ongoing Disciplinary Proceedings
MTTA clarifies that immediately after becoming aware of the allegations made against one
of its former members, it initiated independent disciplinary proceedings against him. This
despite the fact that the alleged incident occurred on University of Malta grounds during a
badminton session and was not related to any table tennis activity. After the investigation
was concluded, MTTA’s board imposed a lifetime ban on the member from any MTTA
activities, which ban remains in force.
The individual concerned has since then appealed this decision and MTTA is in the process
of finalising the composition of its appeals board, which composition was delayed due to
administrative and leadership transitions beyond the Association’s control.
MTTA takes any allegation relating to sexual misconduct seriously and has every interest in
ensuring that this appeal is determined and that any proceedings which may be filed by any
injured party be concluded. Furthermore, MTTA is not aware of any ongoing safeguarding
risk in relation to this matter, particularly given that the member remains suspended to
date
Conflict of Interest concerns
Finally, the MTTA notes overlapping roles involving individuals connected with The Malta
Olympic Committee, the MITTC and the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport.
While the MTTA does not make allegations of personal wrongdoing, good governance
standards require that conflicts of interest, whether actual or perceived, be properly
managed and avoided.
The integrity of Maltese sport depends on transparency and independence in decision
making.
MTTA is alive and active
Despite these challenges, the MTTA has continued to evolve into an active, vibrant, and
growing federation with more than 50 teams participating in its national league taking place
bi-weekly, 3 national ranking tournaments and the National Championships scheduled for
next month. League fixtures, results, standings, and rankings are now managed
electronically and are accessible on our recently revamped website. Communication with
members has been strengthened through regular email updates and active social media
engagement. We invite members of the public to visit the University of Malta gym on
Monday and Friday at 7:30pm to experience firsthand the dynamic and welcoming
atmosphere.
Conclusion
MTTA rejects any allegation of wrongdoing or misconduct and remains available to answer
questions put forward to it by the media on the ongoing situation.
The Executive Council
Malta Table Tennis Association (MTTA)