Floriana’s Emerson Marcelina in a duel with Ryan Scicluna. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Floriana’s bid to overturn their FA Trophy elimination at the hands of Birkirkara on the table proved unsuccessful last night as the Malta FA Protests Board turned down their protest.

The Greens had lost the cup tie to the Stripes 2-0 but 48 hours later they challenged the result of that match as they contended that their opponents had a number of foreign players on their books who were not registered with the country’s employment bodies.

The Protests Board met last night to discuss the case.

After hearing what both parties had to say, they rejected Floriana’s request and ruled that the result was to stand, thus paving the way for Birkirkara to confirm their place in today’s FA Trophy semi-finals draw.

However, the ruling will not be the final chapter to the off-field contestations involving Birkirkara as earlier yesterday Hibernians beat the two-day deadline and lodge a protest against the result of their BOV Premier League match against the Stripes, played at the National Stadium, last weekend.

On Sunday, a very late goal from Edmund Agius saw Birkirkara beating Hibernians 2-1 and hand the league crown to Valletta who have a four-point lead over the Paolites in the standings with only one match to play.

But yesterday, Hibs filed a complaint at the Malta FA offices.

Apparently, they are also contesting the registrations of some foreign players in the Birkirkara squad.

Hibs’ move inevitably put Valletta’s league title celebrations on hold.

No date was set for the Hibernians protest but a decision is expected to be taken before this weekend’s last matches of the 2015-16 league trek.