Premier League strugglers Marsaxlokk have filed a protest at the Malta FA offices against the result of last Sunday's match against Sliema Wanderers, which the latter won 2-1.

Marsaxlokk are contending that Sliema fielded Costa Rica's Victor Ortega Coto who, in their view, was ineligible to play because of irregularities in his transfer document.

Coto, a 17-year-old striker, was making his debut for the Wanderers and marked the occasion with a first-half goal to put his new team ahead. Peter Pullicino drew the teams level in the second half but Lucian Dronca, another new signing, scored Sliema's winner from a late penalty.

The result left Marsaxlokk languishing in eighth place in the standings and eight points adrift of sixth-placed Msida St Joseph. The top six teams will figure in the Championship Pool at the end of the second round.

With 22 points from 13 matches, fourth-placed Sliema are close to secure a berth in the Championship Pool. The Malta FA still have to establish a date for the Marsaxlokk complaint, the first in the Premier League this season. The Protests Board has already met on Monday but sources told The Times efforts will be made for a second hearing before Sliema's next match against Hibs on Saturday.

Infamous derby

On Monday, the MFA board started hearing the protest lodged by St George's following the infamous Division One derby against Vittoriosa Stars on December 27.

Vittoriosa won the match 3-2 but there were serious repercussions to follow as a few days later two St George's players received suspended jail terms after admitting in court to accepting bribes to throw the game.

In their protest, St George's asked the MFA to award them the points but the Protests Board deemed the case was a complex one and decided to delay their decision to give more time for further investigations.