The Malta Football Association yesterday issued a lengthy list of suspensions as no fewer than 17 Premier League players were sanctioned following the weekend matches.
Current leaders Birkirkara will be without midfielder Ryan Scicluna for Sunday’s cruncher against second-placed Valletta at the National Stadium.
Scicluna picked his fourth booking during the champions’ 1-0 defeat to Hibs on Sunday. He was handed a one-match ban.
Mosta will be without three first-team players for Saturday’s Championship Pool match against Balzan at the Hibernians Stadium.
Tyrone Farrugia, who was dismissed in Mosta’s 1-1 draw against Sliema Wanderers, was handed a one match-ban.
Midfielder Ryan Grech and striker Gianmarco Piccioni, who both picked their fourth booking against the Wanderers, were also sanctioned by the Disciplinary Commissioner.
Balzan, on their part, will be without Kurt Magro. He misses the next match after incurring a fourth yellow card.
The Wanderers will have to do without defender Alex Muscat and midfielder Admar Vladavic for their next match against Hibs with the two teams vying for third place in the standings.
Vladavic was given a one-match suspension after seeing red against Mosta while Muscat received the same punishment for four yellow cards.
The Paolites will be without Bjorn Kristensen.
Naxxar Lions lost two defenders – Angus Buhagiar and Thiago Lopez – for Saturday’s Relegation Pool clash against Vittoriosa after both incurred a one-match ban for a fourth booking in the 1-1 draw against Floriana.
Naxxar club president Dione Drago was given a two-match touchline ban.
Last weekend, Drago was ordered off the bench during the match against the Greens.
Vittoriosa Stars trio Ousmane Sidibe, who saw red in the 5-1 upset to Qormi, Federico Santaguida and Jose Aguiar, will all be unavailable for the Cottonera team to serve a one-match ban.
Floriana will be without Sacha Borg for their next match against Rabat who will have Jonathan Bajada suspended.
The other players on the sanctions list were Manuel Caruana, of Tarxien, and Qormi’s Jona-than Bondin. The Rainbows play Qormi on Saturday.