City trio among 12 suspended players

Valletta’s dissatisfaction at the performance of the match officials in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Birkirkara is likely to have intensified yesterday as three of their players were suspended by the Malta FA Disciplinary Commissioner.

Striker Alfred Effiong was the worst hit as the Nigerian received a three-match ban.

Effiong was suspended two games after he earned a straight red card for lunging into Birkirkara defender Rodrigo Pereira as the two chased a long ball in the dying stages of Saturday’s clash.

The former Marsaxlokk player was given an additional one-match ban for remarks he made towards referee Glenn Tonna.

Edmond Agius and Roderick Briffa were handed a one-match ban for showing dissent towards the match officials at the end of Saturday’s match.

Given that Effiong had replaced Aleksandrs Cekulajevs at half-time, Valletta coach Jesmond Zerafa will have to make at least two changes for Saturday’s game against Sliema Wanderers as Briffa and Agius were in the starting line-up for the Birkirkara match.

Valletta team manager Gerard Ellul was also given a two-match touchline ban for protests.

Also receiving a two-match ban yesterday was Birkirkara’s Moises Avila Perez.

The Spaniard was suspended one match for four yellow cards but got an additional one-match ban after he was deemed to have provoked the opposing fans when cele-brating his goal against Valletta.

Sliema lost two players to suspension for their next match.

Anicet Eyenga was hit with a two-match ban following his straight red card in the first half of the 3-3 draw with Balzan Youths while Mark Scerri was suspended one game after being sent off for two yellow cards.

Hibernians, now level with Valletta at the top on 32 points, will have to make do without Luis Edison, their leading scorer, for the clash with Birkirkara on Saturday.

Edison collected his fourth yellow card in the 2-0 win over Floriana.

The Greens, who earlier this week named former Malta midfielder Joe Brincat as their new coach, had two players on the suspensions list.

Flank defender Duncan Pisani incurred a two-match ban following his sending off in the upset to Hibs while John Mintoff has been suspended for one match for four yellow cards.

Balzan Youths will be without three players for tomorrow’s clash with Floriana after Miguel Ciantar, Dylan Grima and Clifton Ciantar were all handed a one-match ban for four yellow cards.