The decision by the ASA Executive Committee to suspend waterpolo late on Friday after the Neptunes Grimaldi-Sliema Frank Salt match, following what it termed as ‘consistent incidents experienced until now’, may not have been surprising in the wake of what happened in recent days.
What was unexpected was its timing given that it was only a seemingly minor episode when the Neptunes coach requested an explanation for Michele Stellini’s disallowed goal and subsequently two of the team players aired their views with the table officials.
Nothing really untoward there.
However, it was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back after some jarring episodes at the end of three games in the last week.
The ASA thought it fit to intervene and calm matters before they escalate further.
However, and in my view, the suspension of competitions was a bit hasty and out of proportion to what happened on Friday.
Here, one recollects that last season the deciding match for the championship title between Neptunes and San Ġiljan was abandoned when objects were thrown at the referees.
Luckily, the situation was defused as that was the last match the season.
This time, the league is building up to a climax especially after a spate of very close duels which have rendered the matches more difficult to control. So, the ASA thought that something had to be done.
Three other incidents this summer spring to mind here.
The first was when a goalkeeper approached one of the referees and the table officials at the end of the match hurling abusive language and indicating from his body language that the referee was bribed.
Strangely, no report was filed either by the referee or the ASA officials and the offender escaped scot free.
In another match, we witnessed some very furious protests by players and coaches of both teams over a penalty decision and the controversy surrounding its subsequent abortive execution.
The third episode again involved strong protests and insults from the stands towards the table by a group of supporters after claiming that their team had the rough edge of one of the referees’ decisions.
It should be noted here that the appointment of a particular referee for the match in question was not judicious enough considering that the same official was at the centre of a controversial decision involving the same team.
In all these cases coaches or club officials were sanctioned in the wake of their offences.
In comments to international news agency Reuters earlier this month, Hungary great Tamas Molnar, who won three Olympic gold medals and is currently engaged by Neptunes for the fifth consecutive year, said people in Malta ‘adore waterpolo like nowhere else and fans, not just spectators, create a fantastic atmosphere’ during certain games.
He said that the game on the island is primarily a summer sport which is transposed from the regular season on the continent and is placed ‘where it belongs, in the sun, by the water’.
In this context it would be a pity to allow the game to degenerate just because it contains elements of controversy by its very own nature.
Tuesday’s urgent Council meeting is expected to discuss the situation and the resumption of all the ASA competitions.
What is definitely needed is a revised code of sanctions resulting in firmer disciplinary measures against culprits.
A thorough cleansing of misbehaviour is necessary for the benefit of the game.