One-match suspension for five players

Five players will miss their clubs' opening matches of the second phase of the Premier League after they received a one-match ban by the MFA yesterday. Valletta and Msida St Joseph had two players each on the suspensions' list. City coach Paul Zammit,...

Five players will miss their clubs' opening matches of the second phase of the Premier League after they received a one-match ban by the MFA yesterday.

Valletta and Msida St Joseph had two players each on the suspensions' list.

City coach Paul Zammit, already reeling from the news that defender Massimo Grima is facing a long lay-off , will have to revamp his backline for Valletta's next match against Hibs after Kevin Cassar and Branko Nisevic were suspended for one match. A fourth yellow card in Valletta's 3-0 victory over Mosta has ruled the two defenders out of their side's game against their former club.

Kenneth Spiteri, another defender, cannot turn out against the Citizens after a fourth yellow card in Hibs' 1-0 defeat to Marsaxlokk triggered an automatic one-match suspension.

Msida will also be without two key players for their initial Championship Pool match against Birkirkara. Defender Josef Mifsud and Paul Fenech, the Malta U-21 midfielder, have been disciplined after both saw red in Msida's 2-0 win over Hamrun on Sunday.

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