Physical education, discipline, character formation and corruption are the key words one thinks now of the vast word – Sports.

Being a sportsman is not in everyone’s blood but being a spoilsport can easily be a characteristic of any sportsmen. Personally, I was never the keenest person to get my sneakers for the PE lesson and as time passed by I got familiar more with the same name in a chocolate wrapper. Nevertheless, I keep updated on any major sport event and being a World Cup, Olympics or anything that involves the national team – I’m there fully geared to enjoy the passion any sports can offer.

For this same reason I feel the need to write. Passion in sports is essential and should be enjoyed by any citizen. I rate it as any civilised citizen’s right. The right to express yourself, the right of enthusiasm, the right for leisure and most of all celebrating sports is why I see sports as crucial for any character formation and society itself in the right way.

Athletes have been any child’s role model since ever! Kids imitate footballers’ looks, fascinate themselves by 100m runners and nickname each other using the names of top sportsmen. Sport is healthy we say. Do we need to add corrupt too?

Unfortunately, the new generations are experiencing an era where scandals are common. Football – the most favourite game – has become the most favourite gamble. We used to comment and sometimes speak out unthinkably that a referee might be siding with a team or that a goalkeeper was maybe not as loyal as we expect him to be, when our team loses a match. Now we’re living a blown up case with many question marks on local football.

Club officials, referees, players are being interrogated in connection with a case that may lead to a series of cases. While all ears were focused on the first case, anonymous letters claim other cases of corruption involving other teams. It seems that 2009 is touching the hearts of all those who have the ball at their heart.

“For the good of the game – No tolerance for corruption” – a statement which can be remembered by many as Dr Joe Mifsud, President of the MFA used to stress in his imitable way of making a point. Wise clear words from a man who is facing the music as the demands for a clean sweep increase.

The MFA is waiting for a conclusion by an investigative board. Whatever the result, the damage is done. The attempts by South end core members to arouse interest in national team matches have been overwhelmed with shouts of alleged corruption. Match fixing rumours are being discussed more than player performances.

Somehow this embarrassing moment is shared by two of the most influential leagues – Seria A and UK Premiership. All this doesn’t help for upcoming talents and youngsters who look up at their idols. Values aren’t a matter you learn by attending Sunday Mass but from living day by day. Corrupting the game doesn’t stop there but goes even further – transmitting bad values to our children. For this reason I see that such case should be dealt in more depth by the Sports Ministry. We can’t opt for silence when we discuss a matter that affects our future and as one of the best sportsmen used to say:

“Sports keeps a society healthy”. We must emphasise that the reference should be both to the physical and mental aspect.

Randolph Spiteri is a Nationalist Party candidate for the San Gwann local council election