Four waterpolo players, three from San Ġiljan and one from Neptunes, were arraigned yesterday over a brawl that broke out between the two teams on Saturday evening.
San Ġiljan player Ranier Scerri from Sliema pleaded not guilty to attempting to seriously injure Stefano Camilleri, the Neptunes team doctor, when he threw a flying kick aimed at his ribs.
Mr Scerri, 22, also pleaded not guilty to throwing water bottles in the scuffle, which broke out at the National Pool in Tal-Qroqq, Msida, at about 7.15 p.m.
Dean Camilleri, 30, and Karl Galea, 29, both San Ġiljan waterpolo players, and 23-year-old Steven Camilleri, who plays with Neptunes, were arraigned separately. They also pleaded not guilty to throwing items and using vulgar language.
The fight broke out between the two teams just after the derby match ended in a 16 – 13 win for Neptunes, who managed to scored three goals in the last 90 seconds.
The match was extremely important for the Neptunes team, which needed the win to remain in the running for the league title.
Although it is not clear how the fight started, sources said the two teams had been verbally provoking each other throughout the match and tempers flared towards the end.
Members of the two teams tried to break up the fight and the police officers on duty had to call for back-up.
Mr Scerri also pleaded not guilty to using vulgar language in public, breaching the peace and disobeying police orders.
Mr Camilleri and Mr Galea from San Ġiljan and Mr Camilleri from Neptunes also pleaded not guilty to breaching the peace, threatening people and disobeying police orders. Mr Camilleri, from San Ġiljan, was also charged with breaching a probation.
Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna granted all four men bail against a personal guarantee of €500 each.
Lawyers Stephen Tonna Lowell and Gianluca Caruana Curran appeared for the three San Ġiljan players.
Lawyer George Hyzler appeared for Mr Camilleri.
In a statement, the president and committee of the San Ġiljan club “strongly condemned” the players and supporters involved in the fight.
The club said it took the matter very seriously and would be taking disciplinary measures as required. “Such irresponsible and unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated by the club, whether the result of provocation or otherwise,” it said.