Balzan Youths finished on the losing end in their debut in the top flight last Sunday when they went down to Ħamrun Spartans 3-1.

However, the Premier League newcomers are now hoping that the result will be reversed by the Malta Football Association as yesterday they filed a protest at the offices in Ta’ Qali complaining that the Spartans had fielded an ineligible player, Daniel Zerafa, in their line-up.

Balzan are saying that Zerafa, a last-minute substitute, still had to serve a suspension handed to him last season in the Youth League.

It is understood that the Protests Board will not convene immediately and the hearing is likely to be scheduled for early next week. Ħamrun’s next match is on Friday against Valletta while Balzan play Qormi on Sunday.

Last season, the Malta FA dismissed a Ħamrun protest after going down to Floriana 2-1 in a match from the first phase of the championship in October.

The Reds had contended there was a technical error in one of the Greens goals but the protest was not upheld.

In April, the Protests Board also overruled a Floriana protest following a Championship Pool match against Marsaxlokk which finished 1-1.

On that occasion, Floriana had asked to be awarded victory by default following an alleged mix-up in the Marsaxlokk team sheet.