Three men were given a suspended sentence yesterday evening, after being accused of causing trouble during football games on Saturday.

Vincent Ellul, 19, from Balzan, was given a one-year jail term suspended for two years, after he pleaded guilty to attacking five police officers during a football match at the Centenary Stadium in Ta’ Qali. He also pleaded guilty to slightly injuring police sergeant J. Camilleri and breaking his glasses, as well as threatening the police, disobeying their orders, breaching the peace and using vulgar language.

The other two men, Alfred Gerada, 63, and his son Christopher, 21, from Sliema, were given a six-month jail term suspended for two years. They pleaded guilty to inciting a crowd of people to commit an offence, disobeying police orders and using offensive language against the police during a football match at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali.

Alfred Gerada alone was further charged with offending the police and deceivingly trying to make it seem like they were the ones to blame in the whole situation. All three men were forbidden from going to any football grounds for a period of two years.

Presiding magistrate Jacqueline Padovani reprimanded them, saying sport should be enjoyed for what it is and they should not attend any sport activities if they are not capable of accepting this fact. Magistrate Padovani warned the men that they could end up in jail should they commit another offence and told them to make a public apology to the police.

Police inspectors Mario Tonna and Nezren Grixti prosecuted, while lawyer Trevor Degiorgio appeared for the accused.