More than two weeks have passed since Malcolm Licari was expelled in the league match against Hibs but the Balzan forward can’t come to terms with his sending-off, moreso with the subsequent three-match ban he received from the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner.
In footballing terms, I’ve been portrayed as a criminal when I’ve done nothing wrong
Licari stole attention for the wrong reasons on September 23 when, barely a minute after coming on as a substitute, he was shown a straight red card for what the match officials deemed was a kick at Hibs goalkeeper Daniel Balzan. The latter had already grabbed the ball when Licari appeared to extend his foot but his intervention looked innocuous albeit unnecessary.
The former Marsaxlokk forward looked on incredulously as referee Adrian Azzopardi brandished the red card and his frustration deepened last week with the news that the Appeals Board had confirmed his three-match ban.
Licari is still aggrieved about the decision as he is adamant that he didn’t touch the goalkeeper. And the 34-year-old hopes that something positive comes out of his ordeal.
“There was a long pass and the Hibs goalkeeper caught the ball,” Licari told The Times as he recalled the incident.
“The goalkeeper held on to the ball for a while, maybe to waste time. I had followed the action and touched the ball as if to tell the goalkeeper not to waste time but I certainly didn’t kick him. There was not even the slightest contact.
“I accept my responsibility that I kicked the ball, even though television footage suggested that I kicked him in the side of his chest.
“The ball was between the goalkeeper’s chest and the ground. Although everyone is saying that I touched the goalkeeper, I reiterate my position that I only made contact with the ball.
“The television footage available was inadequate and didn’t reflect what actually happened.”
People might wonder why Licari, a notary by profession, has taken so long to air his grievances but he wanted to wait for the outcome of the appeal before speaking out.
“I know that my job as a footballer is to do the talking on the pitch but that opportunity has been taken away from me,” Licari, who has already served two matches from his suspension, said.
“There was a time when I thought that suffering in silence was the best option, but in this case, if I remain silent, I’d feel like an accomplice.
“That would constitute an injustice to anyone who might have to go through a similar ordeal in the future.
“I didn’t speak before because I wanted the appeals process to take its course in the hope that justice would prevail.”
Regarded as a gentleman, on and off the pitch, Licari feels that the charge levelled against him by the MFA and the ensuing punishment have put a stain on his reputation.
“My main concern is that people out there are doubting my integrity,” Licari observed. “I was given a red card only a minute after coming on as a substitute and that’s having an impact on my life.
“In a way, I can try to emphatise with the assistant referee (Duncan Sultana) about what he thinks he may have seen but that was not the case. If the goalkeeper (Balzan) wants to speak out, it’s his call.”
Licari is convinced that his intervention didn’t even warrant a red card.
“I understand that referees must decide instantly but both the match officials and the Appeals Board had enough time to consider and confirm that there was no contact with the player and no malice on my part when I extended the foot,” Licari said.
“A fair punishment would have been a yellow card, definitely not red,” Licari said. “The term ‘violent conduct’ is simply unacceptable to me. The rules don’t make a distinction between violent conduct and other forms of physical contact.
“I must admit that the violent conduct charge shook me. I have to speak out so that psychologically, I can move on. I have to accept the ban because there’s nothing more I can do about it.
“I believe that the terminology used in the applicable rule should be changed to reflect different forms of contact.
“Furthermore, the rules state that no appeal can be made against a suspension not exceeding two matches and I don’t agree with that.
“The footballing authorities must ensure that justice is made. More could have been done by the authorities to ensure that justice prevailed in this case.”
Licari feels that he’s been the victim of an injustice.
“In footballing terms, I’ve been portrayed as a criminal when I’ve done nothing wrong,” he added.
“I’m fighting for my place in a new team and the coach (Ivan Zammit) gave me an opportunity to advance my claim in the Hibs game but that chance was taken away from me.
“I want to stress my innocence and protect my integrity.”
Asked if he considered turning his back on the game, Licari replied: “No, this saga has given me added motivation to continue because it has shown me that football still means so much to me... I’m not ready to quit the game.
“I know I must bounce back from this trial and hopefully there's a silver lining to this experience too.
“I'm hoping that, somehow, it makes me stronger, both as a player and as a person.”
BOV Premier League statistics
Balzan FC: Elton 5 (2 pen); Pedrinho 3; Mendy, Licari, Deanov.
Red cards: Conceicao (vs Ħamrun), Licari (vs Hibs).
Birkirkara: Mifsud Triganza 4; Jhonnattan 4; Muscat 2, Joselito 2, Shodiya 2 (1 pen); Vukanac, Camenzuli, Fenech.
Red card: Scicluna (vs Balzan).
Floriana: Darmanin 3; Cilia 2, Verma 2, Wasiu 2; Alhinho, Brown.
Red cards: Brown (vs Rabat), K. Farrugia (vs Mosta).
Ħamrun Spartans: Grima 4 (2 pens); Calabretta 2, Scerri, Bozhov, Zerafa, Vella. Own goal: Gribbon (vs Melita).
Red cards: Fenech (vs Floriana), Cassar (vs Tarxien Rainbows).
Hibernians: Lima 4 (1 pen), Cohen 3, Dias 3; Pulis 2, Pisani, Soares, Levnaic, Nwoba.
Red cards: Muscat (vs Balzan), Dias (vs Balzan).
Melita: Armaro Negrin 2, L. Micallef 2; Galea, Vukanic (pen). Own goal: Pace (vs Balzan).
Red cards: Vukanic (vs Valletta), Sierra Camacho (vs Tarxien).
Mosta: Obiefule 5 (1 pen); Mitev 4; Aboulezz 2; Bajada, Campagnoli, Zongo, Apap.
Own goal: Bello-Osagie (vs Qormi).
Red cards: Grech (vs Sliema), Aboulezz (vs Floriana).
Qormi: Spiteri 3, Pisani 3; Bello-Osagie 2; Thackray, Chetcuti.
Rabat Ajax: Astrauskas 2; Fuster, Smeir.
Red cards: Borg (vs Floriana), Brincat (vs Sliema Wanderers).
Sliema Wanderers: Woods 5 (1 pen); Ciantar 2, Muchardi 2, Ruggiero 2; El Ghaouti, Barbetti, A. Muscat.
Tarxien Rainbows: Danilo 3, Bueno 3 (1 pen); Evaldo 2; Andrezinho, Tanti.
Red cards: Danilo (vs Sliema), Evaldo (vs Birkirkara).
Valletta: Mifsud 9 (2 pens); Fenech 3, Gabriel 3; Briffa 2; Denni, Caruana, Ricardo, Borg.
Own goal: Tufegdzic (vs Melita).
Next fixtures
BOV PREMIER LEAGUE
Friday, October 19 (Tedesco Stadium)
Balzan vs Sliema Wanderers - 18.00
Birkirkara vs Ħamrun S. - 20.15
Saturday, October 20 (National Stadium)
Mosta vs Rabat Ajax - 15.00
Floriana vs Valletta - 17.00
Sunday, October 21 (National Stadium)
Qormi vs Melita - 15.00
Tarxien Rainbows vs Hibs - 17.00
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Valletta | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 5 | 19 |
| Birkirkara | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 6 | 16 |
| Hibernians | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 12 | 15 |
| Sliema W. | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 13 |
| Mosta | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 12 |
| Tarxien R. | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Floriana | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 9 |
| Balzan | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 7 |
| Qormi | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 7 |
| Ħamrun S. | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 18 | 7 |
| Rabat Ajax | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 2 |
| Melita | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 22 | 1 |