It was not just people who missed out having a meal with their heroes, Italian or British, who saw red last Thursday. It was all those who were attracted by what looked like a good idea, which then turned out to be a complete mess.

There will now be countless legal complications, said sources, as companies that invested in the concept of getting former football heroes from Italy and England to fight it out at Ta’ Qali stadium, fight to secure their investments.

One such company is GO, which said in a statement yesterday it apologises for the inconveniences caused to the many Paul Gascoigne fans who turned up to meet the former England star at GO’s concept store in Birkirkara on Friday, as advertised in the press.

GO had no control over the fact that Gascoigne did not visit the store. Former Italian national player Giuseppe Signori did visit the outlet and met fans and signed autographs.

GO added it reserves the right to initiate legal proceedings against MMFL on this count as well as on other counts, to safeguard its legal interests inter alia concerning the tarnishing of the brand’s image resulting from the disorganization of the post-match gala dinner, where a number of patrons were turned away.

Other companies considering legal action are said to include MFCC.

One particular aspect of the whole mess seems to involve Air Malta.

It is said the players, promised flights to Malta, found a complete lack of organization when they went to check-in desks.

That could well be the reason why some advertised names, such as Paolo Rossi, Ian Rush, and Paolo Di Canio failed to come to Malta, or the fact the game began 30 minutes late and no line-up was available to the press till the game began.