The Journalists’ Committee yesterday protested to the Malta Football Association over the “manhandling” of The Malta Independent photographer Ben Borg Cardona by security personnel, during Wednesday night’s Valletta-Juventus football match.

Mr Borg Cardona sustained bruising, and his camera was slightly damaged during the incident.

Just before the match started, Mr Borg Cardona had been situated at the end of the line of photographers waiting for the Juventus squad to come out of the tunnel linking the dressing rooms to the pitch.

But just as the players were about to make their appearance, security personnel insisted Mr Borg Cardona change his position, a demand which he refused as, he says, he was placed well within photographers’ parameters and was causing no obstruction to the players.

Security personnel are said to have then made matters worse by threatening to remove Mr Borg Cardona from the pitch if he refused to relinquish his position. Mr Borg Cardona insisted on maintaining his position, and said he would move only if instructed to do so by the police.

Having refused to change position, Mr Borg Cardona reported that five to six security personnel forcibly removed him, bruising him and inflicting slight damage to his camera.

Mr Borg Cardona insisted he was at no point in contravention of rules governing photographers at the Ta Qali stadium.

Security for the players was not provided by the Malta Football Association, but rather by match organisers Renaissance Malta.

The Malta Independent was unable to reach representatives of Renaissance Malta yesterday.