Floriana president Riccardo Gaucci told the club players and fellow committee members that he was stepping down from his post in the aftermath of his team’s controversial 3-1 league defeat to Hibernians on Sunday.

Club officials are hopeful of persuading Gaucci to reverse his decision to resign which stemmed from his growing dissatisfaction with what he described as a series of poor refereeing calls that have proved costly for Floriana this season, especially in games against Valletta and Hibernians.

On Sunday, Floriana were livid after referee Esther Azzopardi showed a straight red card to goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona for a late tackle on Hibs striker Jorginho outside the penalty box on the half-hour mark.

The score was 1-1 when Calleja Cremona was dismissed but Hibs struck two late goals for a 3-1 victory that seriously undermined Floriana’s top-four hopes as the Greens are now six points adrift of Birkirkara with four games left.