Di Lello's transfer hits snag

Mauro Di Lello's transfer to Maltese champions Sliema Wanderers has all but collapsed.

Di Lello was expected to make his debut for Sliema in yesterday's Euro Challenge Cup match against Marsaxlokk but Malta FA officials informed Sliema that the Italian's documents had only been accepted on the condition that they rescinded the registration of either Danilo Doncic or Murphy Akanji.

The whole dilemma revolves around the complex regulations announced by the association after Malta became a full member of the European Union on May 1. Sliema confirmed the three foreigners they had last year, namely Serbian striker Doncic, goalkeeper Akanji and Orosco Anonam, both of Nigeria.

Anonam has another year left on his contract with Sliema.

The new rules stipulate that a club can only have three foreigners on their books if one of them comes from a country outside the EU.

On the other hand, clubs are allowed to sign an unlimited number of players from EU-EEA countries but only three can be on the pitch at the same time in domestic commitments.

Sliema's foreigners are all non-EU citizens but the Blues were convinced that they could add another non-Maltese player in view of the transitional measure whereby an exception has been made for those whose contracts with clubs were deposited at the MFA by February 1, 2004 and expire after July 1.

Contacted yesterday, a Malta FA official said Di Lello's registration had been approved as he is an EU citizen but according to MFA regulations, Sliema had to release one of the other two non-EU players who had just signed new contracts - Doncic or Akanji.

Faced with such scenario, Robert Arrigo, the Sliema president who has been up in arms with the MFA over the new regulations governing foreign players, decided to withdraw Di Lello's registration.

A distraught Arrigo told The Times that the MFA ruling had left him with no other option.

"There was no other alternative but to follow this course of action considering the circumstances," Arrigo said.

This latest twist to the seemingly unending controversy surrounding the MFA rules which many believe are in breach of the EU laws, has clearly irked Arrigo who stated: "I have started to give up on local football. Now we heard that clubs are to be charged Lm250 for every league match. This would further dilute any revenue for local clubs."

Asked whether he intends to step up his fight against the MFA regulations, Arrigo said: "Now it's in the hands of the government and the Council of Europe."

Di Lello, formerly of Pietà, had signed a three-year deal with Sliema but his future here is rather unclear as the Wanderers are now likely to annul his contract.