Syrian billionaire Yahya Kirdi has opened legal proceedings against Division One side Naxxar Lions after he fell out with the club’s committee.

Reports said that the former club president is sueing the Naxxar Lions committee and the Malta Football Association in a Canadian court, where he is asking to be compensated for all the damages he suffered during his time as president of the Division One club.

Kirdi is asking to receive as compensation the sum of around €600,000 that will cover the investment he put in the club as president and moral damages he suffered during the time at the club.

The former Naxxar Lions president is also sueing the Malta FA as he felt that the Maltese governing body of football did not intervene to resolve the issues that existed between him and the Division One club.

It is understood that Kirdi and Naxxar Lions fell out last June during the club’s annual general meeting during which he was confronted by club members over his club’s management.  

Contacted by the Times of Malta, the Malta FA general secretary Angelo Chetcuti said that the association will be providing the necessary paperwork to the Canadian court to inform them that they will be contesting the accusations.

"It's clear that the problems between Naxxar Lions and Mr Khirdi are much bigger than just what happened at the club's AGM," Chetcuti said.

"The Malta FA do not have any information on the agreement that existed between Khirdi and Naxxar Lions and therefore we can't give any judgements.

"This case should act as an eye-opener for local clubs to act carefully before bringing persons to the club to help them in their club administration."

The Malta Football Association has already discussed the case during an Executive Committee meeting in December and will provide information during Thursday’s Council meeting.