Qormi’s defensive options ahead of their clash with Sliema Wanderers have been weakened after they had three players receiving a one-match ban yesterday.

Argentine centre-half Maurizio Mazzetti, dismissed for two yellow cards in the 1-1 draw against Balzan last weekend, and Serbian defender Zoran Levnaic, suspended for four bookings, were both ruled out of Sunday’s match.

Bjorn Bondin, Qormi’s defensive midfielder, was also given a ban for four yellow cards.

Sliema, one point behind Qormi in eighth place, have lost Italian winger Fabio Mangiacasale who collected his fourth booking in the 2-1 defeat to Hibs.

A total of nine Premier League players were handed a one-match ban but none from leaders Hibs or second-placed Valletta, who face each other on Sunday.

Balzan defender Samir Arab, sent off in last weekend’s match against Qormi, will miss Saturday’s clash with Birkirkara who themselves will be without Brazilian defender Matheus Bissi.

Amadou Samb, Floriana’s Senegalese winger, will skip the match against Pietà after being sanctioned for four cautions.

Mosta will be without Tyrone Farrugia (four yellow cards) for the derby against Naxxar Lions on Saturday, while Żebbuġ Rangers must make do without Carlo Monti for their match against fellow strugglers Tarxien.

Mifsud lay-off

Sliema Wanderers striker Michael Mifsud is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks after fracturing his fibula during the defeat to Hibs.

Mifsud, the Malta captain, suffered the injury after his foot got stuck in the turf in the first half of last Saturday’s match.