A 48-year-old man yesterday admitted to firing a shot with a stolen pistol at the floor of the Naxxar football club after someone hid his gloves.

Simon Aydelman, a Russian who lives in Naxxar, pleaded guilty to holding a number of people against their will at the Lions Football Club in Victory Square, pointing a gun at two police officers, firing the gun once inside the club, illegally carrying the pistol and handling stolen property.

During his arraignment yesterday, Mr Aydelman was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €8,000 after Magistrate Edwina Grima took into consideration that according to law she still needed to listen to witnesses before handing down judgment.

She also said that he satisfied the conditions to be granted bail.

The incident occurred at around 8.45 p.m. on Saturday after someone at the club hid his gloves which he uses when driving his motorbike. In a rage he drove home, fetched a stolen gun and returned to the club. He then fired a shot at the floor, sources said.

No one was injured in the incident.

Police Inspectors Anthony Portelli and Bernard Spiteri prosecuted.

Lawyer Giannella Caruana Curran appeared for the accused.