The Malta Football Association is expected to issue charges against Valletta FC and some Valletta and Floriana players after the incidents which occurred on and off the pitch at Ta’ Qali Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Such incidents marred a keenly contested match. Everything erupted soon after referee Paul Caruana blew the final whistle which saw Floriana winning 1-0.

A Floriana player, Christian Cassar, was alleged to have made provocative gestures towards the Valletta side and this led to some Valletta players pushing the player to the ground with some of them kicking him before police, committee members and other team-mates pushed away the assailants for Caruana to be able to limp away to the Floriana end of the field.

Valletta FC are expected to be charged over the behaviour of their supporters who threw a good number of seats onto the ground and onto the pitch apart from getting involved in a fight with some policemen. However, the police on duty soon restored order, though one of them was seen on TV being punched in the face.

MFA president Norman Darmanin Demajo said yesterday the MFA will study all available information (including the referee’s report and the match inspectorr’s report) on what happened before issuing any charges against club/s or individuals. And he added that important video evidence will also be taken into account.

He also said that the perpetrators of the incidents will all have to pay the price for what they did.

The MFA boss said that everyone should shoulder responsibility for their behaviour.

Darmanin Demajo said it was a great pity to see such bad behaviour from certain players who also form part of the national team. “They should know better,” he commented.

Meanwhile the police yesterday arraigned two Valletta fans and player Terence Scerri following Sunday’s incidents.

See Court story on page 2