Italian Devis Mangia has been cleared of sexual harassment and grooming of Malta players as their international coach, but found guilty of improper conduct.
Mangia is known in Italy for his experiences as coach of Palermo, Spezia, Bari, Ascoli and the Italy Under-21 side, then had two years in Romania with Universitatea Craiova.
He was hired by Malta in December 2019 and oversaw 28 matches until his dismissal in September 2022, when two players accused him of sexual harassment.
The investigation was completed by the Safeguarding Board of the Malta Football Association, but found that while he was guilty of “improper conduct, the board did not find sufficient evidence to support the allegation of sexual harassment or grooming.”
Mangia will be suspended from any football activity in Malta until he takes part in a course on professional boundaries, which he must do within the next six months.
Mangia released a statement of his own insisting that this appeal represented a vindication of his position, “confirming there was no sexual harassment, nor grooming.”
He was replaced on the Malta bench by another Italian, former Chievo midfielder Michele Marcolini.
Malta are in the same EURO 2024 qualifying group and will meet again on October 14.