Four men sporting similar tattoos on their necks and arms, including red lips and one reading “F**k the police”, were yesterday charged over a free-for-all fight in Cospicua on Tuesday afternoon.

The court heard that an argument between “two clans” from Senglea and Cospicua first broke out on Monday evening during a five-a-side football match that had to be abandoned after 15 minutes.

The fight on Tuesday was between the Brincat and Dalli/Cassar families and escalated to the point where about 30 people got involved.

Those arraigned were Fredrick Dalli, a 32-year-old car dealer from Cospicua, his unemployed brothers Charlston Cassar, 22, and Redent Cassar, 20, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named as he is a minor.

Violence broke out at a five-a-side football match and escalated to the point where about 30 people got involved

They were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, assaulting and insulting people and breaching the peace.

Mr Dalli was also charged with incitement to commit a crime.

Charlston Cassar and Redent Cassar were further charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Brincat.

The prosecution is alleging that they hit Mr Brincat on the head with a metal pipe and a wooden stick.

They were also charged with seriously injuring Omar Ellul during the fight.

Redent Cassar, who said he could not remember his address, was also accused of relapsing.

They are pleading not guilty.

Lawyer Veronique Dalli, appearing for all four, argued that members of the Brincat family went to Cospicua, taking a wooden plank with them, and threatened to kill the Cassars and Mr Dalli.

She said her clients tried to avoid trouble, so they went to Qormi to allow the situation to calm down.

When they returned, a massive fight broke out when they found the Brincats waiting for them in Piazza Gavino Gulia and the situation quickly got out of hand.

Police Inspector Josric Mifsud said CCTV footage showed the accused walking down the road carrying metal pipes and wooden sticks.

He said the police had to separate the families by forcing some into the police station’s garage until reinforcements arrived.

Kenneth Brincat, 44, from Senglea – Stephen’s brother – was also arraigned and he denied participating in the fight and with being in possession of a knife.

Magistrate Antonio Vella granted Mr Brincat, Mr Dalli and the teenager bail against a deposit of €500 and a €2,000 personal guarantee.

The other two brothers facing the more serious charges were remanded in custody.