Together with thousands of Valletta supporters, I was witness to a deplorable lack of efficiency shown by the security staff supervising our national stadium at Ta’ Qali last Sunday afternoon during the important football encounter between Valletta and Birkirkara.

Just before half-time, a Valletta supporter felt sick and fainted on the first row of the heavily-crowded area. Some policemen immediately called for help across the track. Within minutes a group of helpers tried to reach the supporter but could not manage to assist him because all doors were closed. In great panic, they searched for someone who had the keys to open one of the solid iron doors nearest to the person lying on a number of benches.

After  vain calls, they decided to run up a flight of some 80 steps and then through a door at the upper end of the enclosure, and descended towards the poor supporter. They needed a stretcher so another group had to run up the same long distance. Minutes were passing until the supporter was carried shoulder high up and down the same flight of steps among agitated supporters. At the same time the driver of the nearby ambulance took ages to move his vehicle near the scene to pick the unfortunate supporter. No wonder that all the Valletta supporters were protesting angrily seeing all this deplorable scene in front of their eyes. The MFA employs scores of people for various duties but lacks cohesion in urgent matters. Lately, we all witnessed a tragic incident involving an Italian player… but it seems that we never learn to avoid serious mistakes. One must remember that last year a Valletta supporter died during a similar match.

■ Henry Calleja

St Julian’s