An incident that took place during a football tournament for children and teenagers that was organised last week was a reminder of a similar incident with tragic consequences which took place around two years ago.

A shocked parent who called The Malta Independent explained how a goal post fell during a children’s football game that was taking place at the Kordin Hockey Complex in Fgura.

The game involved nine-year-olds from Melita and Sliema football nurseries respectively and goal posts that are smaller than the standard size were set up along the sides of the football ground.

Alex Borg, the father of one of the boys who were participating in the match, said everyone was shocked when the episode took place, but as happens with many other incidents in Malta, it was soon forgotten.

“To add insult to injury, the organisers placed a brick against the goal post to supposedly support it, but this could have proven to be a further hazard to the already unstable goal post. The match then proceeded as planned. I was simply flabbergasted,” said Mr Borg.

The Malta Independent spoke to the organisers of the tournament, who said the incident took place when a boy scored a goal and fell into the net, making the goal post fall.

Luckily there were no casualties in this incident, but a similar case two years ago had claimed a victim… this should have been more than enough to teach us a lesson.

When he called last Thursday, Mr Borg said he hoped arrangements would be made to have safer goal posts for other matches, but when this picture was taken last Friday, the tournament was still under way, and the same goal posts were being used.

When the goal post fell and claimed the life of a boy two years ago, one would have thought that schools, sport centres, clubs and other places would be safer, particularly for parents to have their mind at rest while their children are enjoying themselves.