Pietà Hotspurs coach Noel Coleiro has had his six-month touchline ban overturned by the Malta FA Appeals Board.

Coleiro had been sanctioned after venue delegate Pamela Schembri wrote in her match report that the Pietà coach had headbutted Floriana winger Steve Pisani at the end of the Premier League match between the two clubs, played at the Hibs Stadium on December 13.

The game ended 1-1.

In the appeal hearing, held last Monday, Pietà challenged the Disciplinary Commis-sioner’s decision on the grounds that Coleiro didn’t hit Pisani, arguing that the head contact between the two was minimal following a verbal argument.

The Hotspurs, who were represented by former club player-turned-lawyer Anthony Galea during the appeal hearing, produced a number of witnesses to support their arguments.

After taking into account the testimony of the witnesses, the Appeals Board came to the conclusion that the violent conduct charge against Coleiro had not been proved and subsequently annulled his six-month ban.

Coleiro, who was fined €40 for “ungentlemanly conduct”, has been cleared to take his usual place in the dug-out, starting with Sunday’s match against Sliema Wanderers at the Tedesco Stadium.