Hibernians have filed a protest at European footballing body UEFA calling for an investigation into the refereeing team in their Conference League fixture against FC Riga last Thursday.
The Maltese team was eliminated from the UEFA Conference League in the 3rd round of the competition after a highly controversial second leg against the Latvian team, which saw a number of errors by the refereeing team characterise the match.
“Hibernians FC informs that it has sent a letter of official protest to UEFA following the unacceptable behaviour of the refereeing team in last Thursday's match against FC Riga. The club has asked for an official investigation into the incidents that characterised the match”, the Paola club said on social media on Sunday.
“Whilst we know that this will not overturn the result we remain adamant that justice with Hibernians FC is done”, they said.
Hibernians held a 1-0 lead coming into the second leg, which was played at the Centenary Stadium in Ta’ Qali on Thursday – with many holding out hope that the Paolites would become the first ever Maltese team to enter the fourth round of a European competition.
A winnable tie against Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps then stood between them and an historic qualification to the group phases of the UEFA Conference League.
The second leg fixture was however marred by refereeing mistakes, as Hibernians had a goal disallowed for an inexistent offside, a player sent off, and another player and officials sent off from the bench after an FC Riga player scored a 96th minute goal to take the tie to extra time and made certain signs towards the Hibs bench.
The Latvian side subsequently scored two more goals in extra time to secure qualification into the next round.
The match was refereed by Irish referee Rob Hennessy.