The Aquatic Sports Association of Malta has moved to defend its reputation following comments made by former national team head coach Milan Cirovic during a television interview.
In an interview on Net TV, the Montenegrin coach spoke of political and external influences which he claimed had contributed to a campaign damaging the national team and making it increasingly difficult for him to continue working in Malta.
Without naming individuals, Cirovic referred to people with political power whom he said had been behind efforts that put pressure on the team and those working within it.
Replying, ASA president Karl Izzo said Cirovic's comments had to be considered against the wider environment in which the national team, its technical staff and the Aassociation had operated in recent months.
The association said its reputation, as well as that of players, officials and coaches, had been damaged by public allegations and insinuations, including claims relating to match manipulation.
However, the president stressed that serious allegations could not be treated as established facts simply because they were repeated publicly.
The original controversy centred on allegations of match-fixing. Official investigations which followed, however, exposed betting activity rather than evidence that matches had been manipulated, the statement said.
The association also expressed concern over the leaking to the press of a confidential report prepared by the Malta Gaming Authority at the request of the police. It said the report had allegedly been disclosed by people who were bound by professional secrecy and questioned why there had not yet been an official investigation into the source of the leak.
The ASA president said the issue would be discussed at the association's forthcoming executive meeting, where it would consider further measures to protect the reputation of its reputation, its members and athletes.
Izzo said Cirovic had received the association's full professional support during his tenure and that the ASA had sought to protect its technical staff and players from external pressure, speculation and public insinuations.
He said the former coach's comments about internal politics and external influences could not simply be dismissed and instead raised issues deserving serious institutional consideration.
At the same time, the ASA rejected what it described as attempts to undermine its work through personal agendas, factional interests, political manoeuvring or external pressure.
The president said legitimate criticism would be heard and mistakes addressed, but the association would defend itself against what it considered unfounded allegations or insinuations.
He also defended the progress made by Maltese aquatic sport over the past three years, pointing to increasingly competitive performances by national teams across different age groups.
The ASA said those results were the product of sustained technical programmes, long-term planning, continuity and the work of coaches, athletes, clubs and officials.
It said its focus remained on protecting that progress and ensuring that the structures developed in recent years continued to support Maltese waterpolo.
"Ultimately, the strongest response to speculation, criticism and external pressure is found not in words, but in results," the president said.