The Malta Football Referees Association has criticised a court ruling that condemned Sannat Lions player Antoine Camilleri to a €100 fine, a one-year ban from entering a football ground after he assaulted a referee during Saturday's GFA Division Two match at the Kerċem Stadium.

Camilleri attacked assistant referee Andrea Pavia in the dying minutes of Saturday's match between Sannat Lions and Oratory Youths, after he was just sent off for a second bookable offence.

Camilleri pleaded guilty on Sunday to charges of threatening and slightly injuring a person as well as threatening at attacking another person, breaching the peace and using offensive language.

The MFRA opened its statement by thanking the Malta Football Association for the support it showed and believes that the local governing body of football's disciplinary body will do what the Gozo Court failed on Sunday, "to hand Camilleri a ban that he duly deserves."

"The committee of the MFRA is ordering its members, who amount to almost a 100 per cent of the officials present in Maltese football, to dismiss any appointment of matches where Antoine Camilleri could play once his suspension comes to an end," the MFRA said.

"The behaviour of some of the Sannat Lions FC fans during this attack was also unacceptable after they were seen throwing beer and spitting at the official who was grounded after the attack.

"Hours after this attack, the match officials continued to receive threatening messages on social media. Therefore, in a sign of solidarity with the game officials, the MFRA committee is ordering its members not to officiate matches involving Sannat Lions with immediate effect.

"These directives will remain into effect until the MFRA issues other instructions."