MFA president defends himself in smoking ban violation case

Malta Football Association president Joseph Mifsud yesterday defended himself in a court case in which he is charged with breaching the smoking ban during a press conference two years ago.

As he argued his case he told a principal health inspector that she should re-read the law about smoking because she had misinterpreted it.

He maintained that the ban was restricted to restaurants and bars whereas he lit up in a room within the Centenary Stadium at Ta' Qali.

The case dates back to August 29, 2006 when he allegedly smoked for over an hour during a press conference at the stadium.

The law bans smoking inside premises open to the public or a workspace unless there is a designated smoking room.

Dr Mifsud argued that principal heath inspector Miriam Grech, who had testified in the case against him, had misinterpreted the law because the no smoking ban was only limited to restaurants and bars.

The Times Journalist Rosanne Zammit testified that, at the press conference, she had asked Dr Mifsud whether he could see the irony of smoking during a news conference on sports in a place where the law had banned smoking.

When Ms Zammit referred to Dr Mifsud as "Mr Mifsud", during her testimony, Dr Mifsud corrected her saying he should be referred to as "Dr Mifsud".

On leaving the court room, Dr Mifsud approached Mrs Grech standing outside the courtroom and told her to re-read the law.

Magistrate Jacqueline Pado-vani put off the case for sentencing on January 7.