Floriana FC were put under investigation by the Malta FA for 'improper allegations' leading to a protracted protest case which came to a close on Monday.

Floriana beat Qormi 3-1 in a league match on January 25. However, the Greens lost the three points following a protest lodged by Qormi after they were found guilty of making use of a 'non-bona fide' player - Paolo Rogerio Da Silva - by the Protests Board.

Before reaching verdict, the board relied on a report of a caligraphy expert as Qormi had contended that some signatures in Brazilian Da Silva's transfer papers were not authentic.

During a council meeting on Thursday, club delegates were informed that the MFA had decided to prolong investigations into the case and had referred the matter to its Board of Inquiry which is presided by association vice-president Peter Fenech.

In the course of the protest hearing, Floriana had filed a different complaint and accused Qormi of breaching MFA regulations as well as the Data Protection Act after gaining access to Da Silva's contract.

Floriana had also sought permission to take the case before the Data Protection Commissioner.

In a report, signed by Media Officer Alex Vella, the MFA yesterday said "it will resume its investigations into improper allegations made by Qormi FC regarding the contract of Floriana's new signing, and Floriana FC as regards the witness of the registration of the player (Da Silva) filed by the club with the MFA".

Meanwhile, sources told The Times that the MFA has also taken the initiative to conduct its own internal inquiry into the case.

The association wants to check whether any confidential information was leaked outside its offices after Da Silva's contract was filed during the January transfer window.