Five Floriana basketball players are claiming they were assaulted by a mob of around 20 “heavily intoxicated” Valletta fans before last Sunday’s trophy cup football clash with Floriana.

Their vehicles were damaged, while one player suffered slight head injuries when he was punched as Valletta fans charged into a building where Floriana basketball players were celebrating their team’s promotion.

They also claim that beer bottles and a smoke flare were hurled at them during the incident, which has been reported to police.

Police sources said the incident at the Ta’ Qali pavilion, adjacent to the National Stadium, was being investigated though the lack of CCTV footage made it difficult to identify the culprits.

The incident only came to light after a statement was sent by the Floriana Basketball Association condemning the incident.

Contacted yesterday, team captain Ian Mercieca said the trouble was sparked when he and another four team players were celebrating on the terrace of the Malta Basketball Association premises after being crowned champions of the second division.

At one point, a double-decker bus with some 40 Valletta supporters on board was driven past the terrace, which was visible from the street, and supporters chanted songs against their bitter rivalsFloriana, peppered with foullanguage, Mr Mercieca said.

Suddenly, they started hurling beer bottles as well as a smoke flare, breaking glass panes and damaging cars in the parking area between the street and the premises.

One man ran in their direction and about half the group on board followed him, Mr Mercieca claimed. They gained access to the premises by kicking down a glass door and assaulted the players, including the partner of one of them.

Mr Mercieca said the Floriana players could not fight back because they were outnumbered, but minutes later the rest of the Valletta supporters on the bus entered the premises and stopped the fight and led their fellow fans away.

“Most of them were heavily intoxicated. Of course, we were dressed in green because we are Floriana players after all, and most of us support Floriana FC, but all we were doing was celebrating our title win. We all have Valletta supporters as friends and nothing like this has ever happened before,” he said.

When contacted, Valletta FC president Victor Sciriha said neither he nor other members of the club committee were aware of these incidents. He nevertheless condemned any form of violence. Mr Sciriha also referred to theincidents that took place following Valletta’s defeat to Floriana in the trophy final, where two police officers and a Floriana player were injured and 150 stadium seats were damaged.

He said the media had failed to highlight that the incidents were sparked off after Floriana player Christian Cassar made gestures to Valletta supporters and later uttered foul language at them. The president said it was deplorable that the CCTV cameras at the national stadium were not operational during the match.

Mr Sciriha also protested against the €1,000 fine imposed on Valletta FC after one of the club’s supporters punched a policeman. The fan is currently facing criminal charges in court.

Three men were arraigned on Monday, including 27-year-old Valletta footballer Terrence Scerri, who was caught on television cameras stamping on the chest of Floriana’s Christian Cassar as he lay on the ground. The court is still hearing the case, but the Malta Football Association has banned Mr Scerri from football for a year.

Valletta supporters Renald Briffa, 34, and 46-year-old Tonio Zampa were accused of breaching the peace and assaulting a policeofficer.

Jesmond Nappa Licari, 47, ofValletta denied slightly injuring a police inspector who suffereda shoulder injury, violently resisting arrest, disobeying orders andinciting violence.

The court cases are ongoing.