The Maltese Eurovision delegation is to face an investigation, amid claims of misusing taxpayer money to boost bookmaker odds of a win for Destiny at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.
The Times of Malta reports minister Carmelo Abela has ordered an audit of a €650,000 spend after receiving reports part of the budget allocated to Malta’s Eurovision team was used to place bets on performer Destiny, inflating her odds with bookmakers. Money was also spent on non-Maltese social media influencers and websites.
Two sources close to the probe said the delegation split the spend with €350,000 going to the Malta Tourism Authority and a further €300,000 by the Public Broadcasting Service. The final amount is likely to reach €700,000 when final receipts arrive.
The audit is expected to begin on Monday.
Destiny had been widely tipped to win the Contest this year with ‘Je Me Casse’ after ranking high with bookmakers for several months. She won her semifinal, and in the grand final placed a respectable seventh, despite picking up just 47 points from the public vote.
Is it 47 points from the televote rather than 47 televotes? The latter would be truly horrendous.
Very good point Eric . 47 televotes is what UK got!!