Suspended jail term for injuring football referee

A 41-year old man from Xewkija was yesterday sentenced to two months imprisonment suspended for one year after being found guilty of slightly injuring a referee during a football match at the Gozo stadium.

Magistrate Paul Coppini handed down judgement after noting that this was the fifth time the accused, Carmel Debono, had been found guilty of charges in connection with bad behaviour in a sports ground.

The incident goes back to October 12, 2002, when Joseph Camilleri, who was refereeing a match between Xewkija Tigers and Victoria Hotspurs, was assaulted on the pitch and suffered slight injuries.

Magistrate Coppini explained that although in his evidence in court Debono had denied hitting the referee, in his statement to the police on the day of the incident he had admitted to jumping invading the ground, running into the direction of the referee and hitting him. This version was not only corroborated by the referee himself but also by linesman Carmel Attard.

Debono was also found guilty of invading the football pitch during a match without authorisation, of having used abusive language in a sports ground and of having caused damage to the detriment of Camilleri. Due to lack of evidence, he was not found guilty of having verbally threatened Camilleri over the phone.

Police Inspector Antonello Grech prosecuted. Debono was assisted by Dr Kevin Mompalao.

Dr Chris Said and Dr Georgina Scicluna Bajada appeared for Camilleri in parte civile.