Valletta FC president Victor Sciriha has condemned the violence perpetrated by his players and the supporters in the FA Trophy final on Sunday but insisted they were provoked.
“It is wrong that our players and supporters acted the way they did and I will never condone this behaviour but I hope the police also take action against the Floriana player who provoked the incidents,” Mr Sciriha said.
Floriana player Christian Cassar was kicked in the chest while on the ground by Valletta forward Terence Scerri soon after the game finished. Mr Scerri was shown a red card by the referee as players and officials tried to calm things down.
However, the tension spilled over into the stands when dejected Valletta fans started throwing seats onto the pitch and clashed with the police – some 150 seats are estimated to have been broken. A Valletta supporter was also caught on camera punching a police officer.
Mr Sciriha said that when the referee blew the final whistle Mr Cassar ran provocatively towards Valletta supporters with his fist clenched.
“The Floriana player then passed in front of the Valletta bench and insulted our players,” Mr Sciriha said, insisting the game had gone smoothly until then, despite the tension. Floriana beat their eternal rivals Valletta 1-0 in the dying minutes of the U-bet FA Trophy final at Ta’ Qali stadium to claim their first trophy in 17 years.
Mr Scerri was arrested by the police and detained overnight at the depot in Floriana. He was arraigned yesterday.
When still a Hibernians player Mr Scerri had received an eight-month ban in 2007 after being sent off in a Premier League match against St George’s.
At the time Mr Scerri was found guilty by the Malta Football Association’s Disciplinary Commission of pushing referee Joe Attard, after the official had shown the striker a red card. Minutes later Mr Scerri tried to re-enter the pitch when St George’s were awarded a penalty.
The MFA said it was studying video evidence of the Ta’ Qali incidents to take disciplinary action against the culprits.
Meanwhile, the police association yesterday condemned the incidents in which officers were injured.
“The association notes that the number of violent incidents against police officers has increased and urges the Home Affairs Minister to introduce harsher penalties for people who attack policemen while on duty,” the association said, adding it expected the courts to be firm when delivering judgment.