Three players get one-match ban

Three Premier League players received a one-match ban yesterday.

Floriana defender Brian Said has been suspended after he was sent off for two yellow cards, the second for a wild tackle on Dingli Swallows' striker Joseph Okonkwo, in last Sunday's match. Said will have to miss his side's game against joint-leaders Birkirkara.

Qormi midfielder Massimo Grima and Tarxien Rainbows' winger Gianluca Calabretta were also given a one-match ban after both collected their fourth yellow card in last weekend's matches. Suspension rules them out of Sunday's Qormi-Tarxien clash.

The latest suspensions' list didn't make for pleasant reading for Division One club Balzan Youths as five of their players were hit with bans after their feisty two-all draw with Mosta last weekend was marred by a skirmish between players at the final whistle.

Glenn Tanti was given a four-match suspension while Simon Shead, Jonathan Francica and Clayton Caruana were slapped with two-match bans. Renie Forace, who was red-carded during Saturday's game at the Tedesco Stadium, was banned for one match.

For their part, Mosta had three players receiving two-match bans, namely goalkeeper Jonathan Debono, Kane Paul Farrugia and Bryan Agius.

Change in fixtures

Meanwhile, for the second week running, the MFA amended the sequence of this weekend's matches following a meeting with officials of the four clubs who had been scheduled to play on Saturday.

Kick-off time for Saturday's match between Valletta and champions Hibs has been brought forward to 3 p.m. but the other fixture, between Birkirkara and Floriana, has been moved to Monday at 7.30 p.m. Both matches will be played at the National Stadium.

Revised programme

Friday: Tedesco Stadium - 7.30 p.m. Ħamrun Spartans vs Msida St Joseph.

Saturday: National Stadium - 3 p.m. Hibernians vs Valletta.

Sunday: Hibs Stadium - 2 p.m. Qormi vs Tarxien; 4 p.m. Sliema Wanderers vs Dingli.

Monday: National Stadium - 7.30 p.m. Floriana vs Birkirkara.