Valletta midfielder Roderick Briffa was yesterday handed a one-match ban for making a derogatory gesture in the one-all draw against Birkirkara last Sunday.

Briffa struck in stoppage time with a rising header to salvage a point for the Malta champions after Birkirkara had taken the lead through Nikola Vukanac.

The Malta international took off his shirt as he celebrated his goal but it was the gesture he reportedly made in the early stages of the second half that led the Malta FA Disciplinary Commissioner to suspend him for one match.

Briffa’s misdemeanour was missed by referee Esther Azzopardi but was caught on television.

Malta FA regulations allow the Disciplinary Commissioner to make use of video evidence when dealing with disciplinary breaches that were not dealt with on the field of play by the referee.

Briffa will serve his one-match ban in Valletta’s first third-round match against relegation strugglers Żebbuġ Rangers on February 21.

Zerafa to rejoin Birkirkara

Joseph Zerafa reached an agreement to rejoin Birkirkara.

The experienced wing-back left the club last summer to pursue a career in English football.

Zerafa joined lower-league club Grays Athletic in September but his spell in England was short-lived as the 26-year-old decided a few weeks ago to seek a move back to Birkirkara.

Although the January transfer window closed early last week, Birkirkara are believed to have received the all-clear from both the Malta FA and the English FA to re-sign Zerafa who had figured for the Stripes in the 2-1 victory over champions Valletta in the Super Cup final last August.