Two Italian men were grievously injured when they were allegedly beaten up by bouncers in Paceville last Sunday.

Ricardo Miano, 35, and Luca Dimauro, 27, who were born in Italy but work in Malta, were inside a club in the upper part of St George's Street when they were approached by the bouncers at about 4.30 a.m.

Sources said they were rudely asked to leave before being dragged outside the establishment. They said the two foreigners were then thrown to the ground and kicked repeatedly, suffering multiple fractures and severe cuts.

Mr Miano and Mr Dimauro, the sources added, were then left lying in the street battling for consciousness until passers-by came to their assistance and called an ambulance.

They were taken to hospital where a doctor certified that they were suffering from serious injuries because of the fractures, which include broken noses and ribs. They are still recovering in hospital.

The suspects are expected to be arraigned today after they were identified by the police from footage captured by security cameras in the area.

It remains unclear why the bouncers reacted in this way.

The case is being investigated by Inspector Nikolai Sant from the St Julians district police.

Bouncers tend to make the headlines.

Lance Bombardier Stephen Ciangura, 32, a soldier and bouncer, was accused of seriously injuring Rene Brincat, 25, in August at a club in Rabat.

In May, Duncan Deguara, another bouncer, was accused of grievously injuring Suleiman Abubaker, who later died, in Paceville. Both cases continue.

In June, The Times had reported that the government was in the process of introducing regulations governing bouncers and security officers employed in bars and nightclubs.

The drafts were modelled on the Private Security Industry Act of the UK, with the aim of improving the standards of "door supervisors".