L-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports (GĠS) and l-Istitut tal-Ġurnalisti Maltin (IGM) have taken note of the controversy that erupted over match-fixing reports concerning the Maltese waterpolo team that participated in the 2026 European Championships held in Serbia.

In certain sections of the media, the publication of these reports was characterised as an intentional and unpatriotic act, alleging that such coverage may have disrupted the team’s focus.

While GĠS and IĠM will not comment on the merits or content of the news reports in question, we have to reiterate a fundamental principle of journalism, whatever sector it may cover: Journalism, including sports journalism, is built on professionalism and prioritises the public interest over blind patriotism.

Professionalism is defined by truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, and accountability. It cannot, and should not, be subordinated to blind patriotism. Although sports reporting can naturally evoke national sentiment—particularly on rare occasions when national teams compete on major international stages—journalistic ethics demand that facts are reported without bias, even when such reporting may not align with popular expectations or national sentiment.

Asking a journalist to renege on their duty and postpone a report on a matter of public importance such as match-fixing, simply misses the wood for the trees.

L-interess pubbliku jipprevali fuq il-patrijottiżmu għami

L-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports (GĠS) u l-Istitut tal-Ġurnalisti Maltin (IGM) ħadu nota tal-kontroversja li nqalgħet fuq rapport ta’ tbagħbis tal-logħob marbuta mal-parteċipazzjoni tat-tim Malti tal-water polo fil-Kampjonati Ewropej 2026 li saru fis-Serbja.

F’ċerti sezzjonijiet tal-midja, il-pubblikazzjoni ta’ dawn ir-rapporti kienet imfissra bħala att intenzjonali u mhux patrijottiku, b’allegazzjonijiet li

r-rapportaġġ seta’ tellef il-konċentrazzjoni tat-tim.

Filwaqt li GĠS u IĠM mhux se nikkummentaw fuq il-merti u l-kontenut tal-aħbar, irridu nisħqu fuq prinċipju fundamentali tal-ġurnaliżmu,

irrispettivament ta’ liema settur qed jirrapporta dwaru: Il-ġurnaliżmu, inkluż il-ġurnaliżmu sportiv, hu msejjes fuq il-professjonalità u jagħti prijorità

lill-interess pubbliku fuq il-patrijottiżmu għami.

Il-professjonalità hi kkaratterizzata mill-verità, mill-preċiżjoni, l-oġġettivita, u l-kontabbiltà. Ma tistax, u m’għandix, tkun subordinata għall-patrijottiżmu għami. Minkejja li r-rappurtaġġ sportive jista’ jqanqal sentiment nazzjonali—partikolarment f’okkażjonijiet rari meta t-timijiet nazzjonali jikkompetu f’kompetizzjonijiet internazzjonali maġġuri—l-etika ġurnalistika

titlob li l-fatti jkunu rrapurtati mingħajr bias, anki meta tali rappurtaġġ ma jkunx konformi mal-aspettativa popolari jew is-sentiment nazzjonali.

Li titlob ġurnalist ma jaqdix dmiru u jipposponi rapport fuq materja ta’ importanza pubblika bħal xiri ta’ logħob huwa att li jinjora l-vera problema.