Balzan defender Elkin Serrano Valero and Floriana striker Maurizio Villa were handed a one-match ban following their on-pitch row last weekend.

The two players nearly came to blows following an off-the-ball incident on the stroke of half-time during Sunday’s Premier League match at the National Stadium, prompting their team-mates to join in the melee.

Referee Mario Apap decided not to take disciplinary action against Serrano and Villa after talking to both players but the referee’s observer highlighted their aggressive behaviour in his match report, leading the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner to suspend them for one game.

Balzan, who beat Floriana 1-0, will now be without Colombian Serrano for their match against Pembroke Athleta on Saturday while Villa, from Argentina, will miss Floriana’s game against Naxxar Lions along with Brazilian team-mate Juninho Cabral who was banned for four yellow cards.

Three other Premier League players were given one-match bans for four yellow cards, namely Hibs’ wing-back Marcelo Dias, Mosta’s Onyekachi Okonkwo and Pembroke Athleta midfielder Kyle O’Brien.

Dias has been ruled out of Hibs’ clash with Qormi on Saturday, Okonkwo will sit out Mosta’s match against Birkirkara on Sunday and O’Brien is out of Pembroke’s fixture against Balzan.

 

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