NYON: Four Malta under-21 players have had their appeals against suspension for matchfixing rejected by the appeals committee of European federation UEFA.

Originally UEFA initiated disciplinary investigations against seven Malta under-21 players for allegedly having infringed several provisions of Article 12 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR) in connection to potential match-fixing issues.

The punishment was decided by the control, ethics and disciplinary body after an inquiry into two European Under-21 ties played by Malta against Montenegro on March 23, 2016, and the Czech Republic six days later.

Now a statement from UEFA said sanctions had been upheld as follows:

– Samir Arab: Art. 12 (2) (d) DR: ban until 31.12.2019 for not immediately and voluntarily informing UEFA if approached in connection with activities aimed at influencing in an unlawful or undue manner the course and/or result of a match or competition

– Ryan Camenzuli: Art. 12 (2) (d) DR: ban until until 30.06.2019 and community football service for not immediately and voluntarily informing UEFA if approached in connection with activities aimed at influencing in an unlawful or undue manner the course and/or result of a match or competition

– Llywelyn Cremona: Art. 12 (2) (d) DR: ban until 31.12.2018 and community football service for not immediately and voluntarily informing UEFA if approached in connection with activities aimed at influencing in an unlawful or undue manner the course and/or result of a match or competition

– Luke Montebello: Art. 12 (2) (d) DR: ban until 31.12.2018 and community football service for not immediately and voluntarily informing UEFA if approached in connection with activities aimed at influencing in an unlawful or undue manner the course and/or result of a match or competition

The cases of Emanuel Briffa and Kyle Cesare, who had received a lifelong ban from all football related activity, are still pending. The date of the meeting to decide on these cases has yet to be determined.

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