Marsaxlokk's protest not upheld

Marsaxlokk's bid to overturn their 1-0 Premier League defeat to Sliema Wanderers last week failed after their protest was rejected by the Malta FA Protests Board yesterday.

In their appeal, the Division One champions argued that, according to the FIFA rules, Malta international midfielder Joe Brincat was ineligible to appear for the Wanderers in last week's match after missing Malta's EURO 2004 qualifier against Slovenia on September 7.

However, the Protests Board deemed that Sliema had not breached any rules by fielding Brincat, who had been out of action for eight weeks.

Sliema to withdraw from PLCSC - Bugeja

Meanwhile, Sliema Wanderers have reacted angrily to the protest presented by Marsaxlokk to the Malta FA to the extent that they have decided to withdraw from the Premier League Club Standing Committee for this season.

Contacted by The Times club secretary John Bugeja said: "We are pleased that the MFA has recognised that Marsaxlokk's arguments were unfounded and that the protest has not been upheld.

"Our club felt offended by certain comments made by some members of the Marsaxlokk committee regarding the matter and by the action of other Premier League clubs who instigated Marsaxlokk to submit the protest," Bugeja said.

"In the light of this situation we have decided to withdraw from the PLCSC for this season because we feel that we should not work alongside clubs who have tried to undermine us."