Balzan’s Gianmarco Piccioni has paid a high price for his goal celebration against Valletta as the Italian striker was yesterday handed a one-match ban.
Piccioni was given a yellow card by referee Chris Lautier after he elected to celebrate his stunning second-half strike in Balzan’s 2-1 victory by running in front of the Valletta fans.
His actions inevitably enraged the City supporters, some of whom climbed over the perimeter fence to voice their disapproval.
Piccioni’s gesture was deemed provocative by the Malta FA Disciplinary Commissioner who subsequently suspended the striker for one match, meaning that the 23-year-old will have to miss Balzan’s match against Pietà Hotspurs.
Balzan will be without their two first-choice strikers for Saturday’s match after Bojan Kaljevic received a one-match ban for four bookings.
The punishment handed out to Piccioni was not the only stand-out sanction in the latest suspensions list as the one-match ban issued against Mosta’s Ryan Grech also caught the eye.
The midfielder received a second booking by referee Fyodor Zammit for bringing down the advancing Andrew Cohen 12 minutes from the end of Mosta’s 1-1 draw with leaders Hibernians but it was a case of mistaken identity as the foul had been committed by Kurt Magro.
A spokesman for Mosta told Times of Malta that the club will be appealing Grech’s suspension in the hope of having it overturned before their league fixture against Sliema Wanderers on Saturday.
Mateus, who signed for Sliema Wanderers this week, can’t play against Mosta, his former team, after the Brazilian forward collected his fourth booking last weekend.
Floriana midfielder Clyde Borg was suspended for one game after being reported for showing dissent at the end of his side’s 1-1 draw against Tarxien Rainbows last Saturday.
Borg and Steve Pisani, banned for four yellow cards, have been ruled out of Floriana’s match against Qormi on Sunday.
Scicluna to miss Valletta clash
Birkirkara midfielder Ryan Scicluna is out of Sunday’s direct clash with rivals Valletta after he picked up his fourth yellow card in the 1-1 draw against Sliema Wanderers.
Hibs have lost Rodolfo Soares for the derby against Tarxien Rainbows on Saturday after the Brazilian defender saw red in the 1-1 draw against Mosta.
For their part, Tarxien will have to make do without defender Ryan Sammut, suspended for four yellow cards.
The other Premier League player to receive a one-match ban yesterday is Naxxar Lions defender Ibok Edet. He incurred his fourth booking in the 1-1 draw against Pietà Hotspurs.
The Nigerian will have to sit out Naxxar’s important match against fellow strugglers Żebbuġ Rangers on Saturday.