A legal battle is ensuing over a mega screen showing Euro 2012 matches in Spinola Bay, outraging restaurant owners in the area.

The Land Department issued an eviction order on Wednesday evening, claiming the screen did not have the necessary permits but the company that put up the screen is challenging the move in court.

The company, Massive Promotions, asked the court to stop the eviction and Mr Justice Joseph Zammit McKeon yesterday temporarily upheld the request. Today, he will hear both parties make their legal arguments. By law, the judge has a month to make his final decision.

The owner of three seafront restaurants, Peter Darmanin, said that the setting up of the screen was a great inconvenience to businesses and neighbours. He said he was experiencing losses of up to 50 per cent.

He said he had to wait and see what the court’s final decision would be, auguring it would not take a month. “If it takes a month, they might as well start showing the Olympics,” he said.

Earlier, a spokesman for the Land Department said that since the department did not receive a request for a permit from the company to set up the big screen it had to take action and issue the eviction order.

Massive Promotions insisted that it was given a permit by the St Julians local council and had all the papers in order. In its application asking the court to stop the removal of the screen, it argued that a permit from the Land Department was not necessary.

Philippe Gatt said the company intended to continue using the screen and insisted that the activity was not hindering businesses. McDonald’s, which had a restaurant nearby, was even one of the sponsors, he said.

Restaurant owner, who have complained that the screen was attracting “football maniacs” have signed a petition because, they say, the activity is blocking access to their establishments while the noise is pushing their “first-class” customers away.

Mr Darmanin said the area was being downgraded.

The situation has got worse, he said, with squibs being let off and smoke enveloping the restaurants. He now fears appeals and delaying tactics would mean that the mega screen would only be removed once Euro 2012 is over.

“I have been struggling day and night with the authorities to protect my business and, on behalf of all the petitioners, to halt this madness.” People who posted comments on timesofmalta.com yesterday argued that restaurants were making a fuss and ruining the fun.

St Julians mayor Peter Bonello also defended the big screen, saying shifting the activity to the promenade from the Tigullio area saved 120 parking spaces.

He denied that access to the restaurants on the promenade was blocked and shrugged off the loud noise, saying it stopped at 11 p.m. Hotel Juliani director Erika Cassar Rouvelas said guests had walked out over the weekend because they had “not chosen to stay in a €260 suite to listen to football”.

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association said it was concerned that permission was granted for a large screen near quality restaurants and a quality boutique hotel. It urged the authorities to remove “this nuisance” from the area immediately.