The Times of Malta have reported that well known producer, Anton Attard, set out to artificially inflate Malta’s betting odds for Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv. It has been reported that Anton Attard got in contact with gambling magnate Yorgen Fenech to help improve Malta’s betting odds both before and during the contest.
Just last week, it was reported that the Maltese broadcaster will be audited over their Eurovision 2021 expenditures, and will be investigated over allegations of manipulation of betting odds. One week on and they are being accused of doing the same thing with the Maltese entry in Eurovision 2019.
The reports state that Attard and Fenech were in contact with each other before the contest, and in Tel Aviv itself, where Attard joined Michela and the Maltese delegation. Sources say that Attard had asked Fenech numerous times how much was needed to improve Malta’s odds and “How much do we need to get her high in the odds?” The sources say that the figure needed was never mentioned during their chat.
Speaking to the Times of Malta on the matter, Anton Attard has said: “The spending of public money on betting is not only illegal but despicable.” When asked to clarify if he played any part in manipulating the betting odds, Attard said that “he was only “responsible” for any public funding during his tenure at the national broadcaster” and that “This means that during my tenure at PBS no public money was ever channelled in any way whatsoever for betting to enhance the winning chances of the Maltese song.”
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think such practises could have taken place? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
