A judge has turned down a request by the Floriana Football Club to revoke a garnishee order filed against it by a former president, Johann Said, who claims he is owed money.

The club argued that the garnishee order requested by Mr Said was “malicious” and intended to financially harm Floriana FC.

Despite this, Madam Justice Anna Felice turned down the request for the garnishee to be revoked, saying the garnishee order is there to protect the interest of a creditor who, with due responsibility, is claiming he is owed money.

The court heard how Mr Said and the football club are in disagreement over sums he is claiming he is owed. He took the matter to court, which ordered a garnishee order and froze the club’s assets until the matter is resolved.

The club, through lawyers Michael and Rebekah Tanti-Dougall, sought to revoke the court orders, claiming they were done “maliciously” to put it in a precarious financial position.

The club also requested the court to rule on Mr Said’s intent by ordering him to file guarantees in favour of the club of between €1,200 and €7,000.

The club argued that Mr Said’s actions are, to say the least, “abusive”, since as a club president he should have been safeguarding the interests of the club, as its supporters would have expected.

Mr Said argued that the club’s request should be rejected by the court since his right to protect his financial interests as a creditor should not be denied.

Madam Justice Felice, presiding over the First Hall of the Civil Court, upheld this argument. She said that the rights of a creditor claiming money owed ought to be protected.

She also turned down the club’s request for the filing of guarantees in its favour.