Valletta assistant coach handed six-month ban, set to appeal

Martin Scicluna, Valletta's assistant coach, was yesterday handed a six-month suspension by the Malta FA Disciplinary Commissioner following his side's exit from the FA Trophy quarter-finals at the hands of Marsaxlokk.

Scicluna, a former Malta international, was disciplined after being reported by referee Anton Zammit for remarks he directed at the match officials at the end of Valletta's 4-2 defeat to Marsaxlokk on Sunday.

Valletta players and officials had been angered by Zammit's decision to award Marsaxlokk a penalty early in the second half after their goalkeeper Sean Sullivan was judged to have tripped Andrè Schembri inside the penalty area. Taking part in PBS's football programme Touchline, the Marsaxlokk forward admitted that he looked to win a penalty when Sullivan came rushing at him.

Bulgarian midfielder Mitko Ivanov Trendafilov scored from the spot to put his side ahead for the first time in Sunday's FA Trophy quarter-final.

Contacted by The Times, Scicluna said he intends to appeal against the six-month ban ordered by the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner.

If the original sentence is confirmed on appeal, Scicluna will be eligible to return to the City bench on October 5.

The FA Trophy semi-finalists, Sliema Wanderers, Birkirkara, Msida St Joseph and Marsaxlokk had no players on the suspensions list issued yesterday.