Hibs' coach Gatt gets two-match suspension

Hibs coach Robert Gatt will have to watch his team's next two league games from the stands after he received a two-match ban yesterday.

Gatt came in for punishment by the Malta FA Disciplinary Commissioner after being ordered off the bench for dissent during his side's 3-1 Premier League loss to Birkirkara last weekend.

Added to the one-match ban imposed on Hibs' experienced goalkeeper Mario Muscat, the suspension to Gatt is a further setback for the Paolites who have slipped out of the title race after collecting just one point from their last five matches.

Muscat has been sanctioned after incurring his fourth booking on Saturday and will miss Hibs' delicate match against Marsaxlokk tomorrow.

Hibs, who have also been hit hard by injuries to several key players, need a victory against Marsaxlokk to join the latter in third place. Presently, Marsaxlokk have a three-point gap over Hibs.

Apart from Muscat, four other Premier League players were banned for one match yesterday after they collected a fourth yellow card in their teams' last outings.

Floriana defender Riad-Mynel Gango-Rtsa will miss Sunday's Relegation Pool duel with Mosta and Ian Zammit, of Valletta, and Msida's forward Ibrahim Babatunde are out of their teams' direct encounter tomorrow. Andrew Decesare, Pietà's matchwinner in their 2-1 victory over Floriana on Saturday, was also suspended for one match.