Maltese sport cannot be associated with Joseph Muscat, independent candidate Arnold Cassola has said after reports emerged that the former Prime Minister was being mooted as a candidate to head the Malta Professional Football Clubs Association.

The news that Muscat was one of the names being mentioned to potentially be the chairman of the MPFCA was first reported by NET Television’s Replay, and has prompted a divided reaction from the footballing community.

The MPFCA is made up of representatives from the 12 Premier League clubs.

Amongst those is independent candidate Arnold Cassola, who in a statement said that “Maltese sport cannot be associated with a scoundrel of the ilk of Joseph Muscat.”

“It is imperative that Joseph Muscat, a protector of criminals and a close friend of and receiver of rich gifts from a known suspected assassin, is not in any way associated with Malta’s sport in any way, since this would sully the name of our country, something which all honest Maltese do not deserve,” Cassola said.

He said that he hopes that common sense prevails and that if it does not he would take the matter up with UEFA and FIFA authorities.

Muscat, who resigned as Prime Minister after mass protests in November 2019, has long said that he would like to get more involved in the sports sector.