Five Valletta football club officials and two Birkirkara players were cleared of inciting people to commit a crime, forming a gang and behaving abusively following an important match on August 21.

Sergio Zampa, 54; Sandro Ciliberti, 41; Kevin Gauci, 39; Vincent Tabone, 61, former player; Nicholas Saliba, 43, and two Birkirkara players, Paul Fenech, 23, and Shaun Bajada, 27, were charged following the Bank of Valletta Super Cup final at Ta’ Qali which Valletta won 3-2.

They pleaded not guilty to inciting people to commit a crime, forming part of a gang, behaving abusively, swearing, breaching the peace, insulting, provoking and assaulting others and disobeying police orders.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said the Birkirkara players were walking up the steps towards the VIP area to receive their medals when a fight broke out between them in the grand stand.

The magistrate said the police failed to prove that any of the accused had committed a pre-meditated attack or that they provoked or assaulted anyone.

Lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha appeared for the officials.

Lawyer Edward Gatt appeared for the players.

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