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Two brothers have been charged in court after accusations of a false start and a snide comment led to fisticuffs at the Marsa horse racing track.

Matthew Debattista, 26, from Zejtun, was charged with seriously injuring one man and slightly injuring another. He was also accused of disobeying police orders and breaching the conditions set out in a suspended sentence.

His 24-year-old brother, Ryan Debattisa, from Mosta, was charged with resisting arrest, slightly injuring a police officer, threatening two police officers and disobeying their orders, as well as breaching the conditions set out in two separate suspended sentences.

Tempers flared when another horse owner passed a snide remark to Mr Debattista after his horse lost the race, with the latter claiming that there had been a false start.

An altercation ensued inside the Marsa racecourse but the police managed to calm down the situation and no further action was taken.

Prosecuting office Roderick Agius told the court that shortly after, the police were informed about another more serious fight outside of the racecourse again involving Matthew Debattisa.

It was during the second more serious fight that family members of the other horse owner were injured.

Ryan Debattista later went to Marsa to speak to the race organiser after receiving a phonecall informing him that his brother had been involved in a fight and his face was all bloodied.

Dr Bianco said that Ryan Debattista went there in order to "defend" his brother, which led to an altercation with a number of police officers.

The brothers' request for bail was denied.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale presided.