Press photographer files verbal police report after commotion

Supporters watching the Valletta-Juventus football match at the national stadium in Ta' Qali on Wednesday night might have noticed a brief commotion at the entrance to the players' tunnel.

Ben Borg Cardona, photographer of The Malta Independent, said when contacted yesterday he was waiting outside the tunnel, standing in one of the two rows of photographers, with space in between to allow the footballers to walk out of the tunnel onto the pitch.

"I was standing at the end of the line, on the border of the pitch," he said. Security men asked him to move to the opposite side. "I refused because I couldn't take good photos from that end," he added.

Mr Borg Cardona stood his ground and the security personnel then decided to escort him away.

Mr Borg Cardona said he was asked to leave the stadium but police officers intervened and he was allowed to return to his assignment.

Jason Pisani, head of security at Executive Protection Services, said that the personnel, who provided security for the visiting Italian team, were instructed by the Malta Football Association to keep the press well clear of the turf, other than the areas assigned to photographers at each end of the pitch.

Mr Borg Cardona said he has made a verbal report to police officers present at Ta' Qali.