Three banned from football after match trouble

Three men were yesterday fined a total of €2,820 (Lm1,211) after pleading guilty to disobeying police orders and conspiring to incite a group of people to commit a crime, during the Football Association trophy final last Saturday.

Jason Agius, 34, of Ħamrun, was fined €1,160 (Lm497.44) after he admitted to inciting 10 or more people to commit a crime, disobeying police orders, offending public morals and swearing at police officers.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera also banned him from attending football matches next season.

Gilbert Dimech, 29, of Sta Venera was also fined €1,160 and was banned from football games next season while Malcolm Schembri, 26, of Ħamrun, was fined €500 (Lm214.59) and banned from football matches for a month. They had also pleaded guilty to resisting and threatening police and swearing in public during the game.

After handing down judgment Magistrate Scerri Herrera told the men that the police are there to protect citizens and not to be maltreated by them.

Police Inspectors Mario Tonna and Nezren Grixti prosecuted.

Lawyers Josè Herrera and Veronique Dalli appeared for Mr Schembri and Mr Dimech, while Roberto Camilleri and Michele Spiteri appeared for Mr Agius.