Hibernians GoMobile yesterday explained their decision in refraining from playing the third match of the final against Depiro Still in the Peugeot women’s national league.

Addressing a news conference at their premises in Kordin, the club president, Charles Deguara, said it was an unfortunate, but very difficult decision, not to honour their fixture on Sunday.

He added that Depiro had been informed that Hibs would lodge a protest were they to include Grima and Cardona before the match. “It was only after 15 April, the day we received confirmation from the Italian Federation, that we decided to lodge a protest,” he added.

Deguara said the decision not to honour the fixture had been taken during a meeting last Sunday morning, a day after their appeal had also been turned down by the MBA’s Appeals Board. Earlier the MBA Protests Board decided not to uphold their protest over the eligibility of two Depiro players, Josephine Grima and Joselle Cardona.

Club lawyer Pio Valletta explained that the facts showed that Depiro had been sent a letter by the MBA general secretary on 20 October 2004, informing them that the two players, Josephine Grima and Joselle Cardona, were eligible to play in Malta. These two players were training with Sicilian club Priolo. “That letter never reached Hibernians or any other club contesting this year’s league and we only came to know about it during the hearing of the protest. This is what we consider unfair,” said Dr Valletta.

He added that Hibs had received confirmation from the Italian Basketball Federation on 15 April that the two players in question were registered members of the federation. “Hibs came to know that they were not just training with Priolo, but had also actually played for another club, Virtus Siracusa. FIBA rules clearly state that ‘a player may not be licenced by more than one national federation at the same time’. In our opinion, their double registration was evident and that should have been enough to make them ineligible. Not that Hibs have anything personal against the players or against their local club. But the rules are clear and should be adhered to accordingly,” he said.

He added: “Had that letter been sent to all the clubs, I think there would have been no objection, but as it is, Hibs had every right to lodge a protest. The Protests Board decision is an insult to one’s intelligence. That made it seem like FIBA rules are not binding on the local association.”

Dr Valletta also criticised the Appeals Board, consisting of ASA president Robbie Ebejer and MOC general secretary Joe Cassar, saying that the way the club was informed of their decision was another insult. “At least, we expected to be told the reason why our appeal was not upheld, not just a short sentence in which they said the appeal was not upheld and therefore the decision of the Protest Board should stand,” he said.

Near the end, three other club representatives from Luxol, Naxxar and Kerygma, also declared their full support to Hibs in this issue, confirming they had never been told anything about that 24 October 2004 letter sent to Depiro by the MBA general secretary.

The club president also said that they would accept any sort of mediation to try and solve the dispute without going to FIBA. “We are leaving our doors open. We are not after the points of the matches played. We are proposing to have replays as a first solution. But if there is no goodwill, there will be no other option except to go to FIBA to defend the clubs’ interests,” he added.

Asked whether they knew about the consequences, Hibs said they were aware that, according to MBA rules, they could be fined something between Lm100 and Lm1,000, while adding that MBA president Magistrate Mizzi informed them that there could also be some sanctions against the players. They also said they were aware that they needed the permission of the MBA to be able to present their case to FIBA.

Asked whether their national team players would be effected in view of the impending Small Nations Games tournament in Andorra, Deguara said: “We have always supported the national team. Two years ago in Malta, we provided the biggest number of players to the team that won the gold medal. And we intend to continue giving our full support,” he claimed.