VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese Premier League team Birkirkara FC has revealed it narrowly avoided falling victim to a sophisticated international transfer scam involving a Maltese national team player.
In a statement on Wednesday, the club said an individual posing as the sporting director of a German second-division side submitted what appeared to be a record offer for the player. The footballer was also approached directly and offered terms that “seemed difficult to refuse.”
As reported by NET News, club officials and the player had spent days working to finalise the move, even arranging medical tests in Germany. But doubts surfaced late Tuesday when a document sent by the supposed director appeared suspicious. Further messages included a request for a refundable “transfer tax,” prompting immediate concern.
Birkirkara’s lawyers, supported by the European Club Association, confirmed the offer was fraudulent. When the German club was contacted, it stated no negotiations had taken place and that police were already probing similar scams targeting multiple European teams.
Sources said the scammer also misled the player’s agent into agreeing to pay about €30,000 for travel and medical arrangements. A three-way call between club president Michael Valenzia, the agent and the impostor exposed the deceit when the latter refused to activate his camera. He eventually admitted to the fraud, laughed off the agent’s loss, and hung up.
Birkirkara avoided financial damage, but the case, believed to be Malta’s first publicly reported incident of its kind, has raised concerns among local clubs.
Valenzia held a virtual meeting with senior ECA officials, including representatives from Barcelona and Stuttgart, both recently targeted by similar schemes. The parties exchanged information in an effort to identify the criminal network behind what is thought to be millions of euros in attempted fraud.
The club thanked its legal advisors, ECA partners and the German side, noting their cooperation was crucial in protecting its interests.
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