MFA Appeals Board give permission to Gżira United to seek damages from Sirens

Gżira United have been given permission by the Malta Football Association to go to court and open legal proceedings against fellow Premier League side Sirens FC.

“Recourse to a tribunal external to the Association will concede to Gzira Utd FC following a request filed before the Appeals Board which was upheld. This is the first time under a new procedure introduced as part of the Statutory Reform approved last July through which such requests are decided upon by the highest independent body,” the Malta FA said in a statement.

“This decision was announced by the Appeals Board today following two sittings held on the 17th and the 23rd of November 2021.

“Gzira Utd FC claim that they have been deprived of the opportunity to participate in UEFA club competitions in Season 2020/21 due to an alleged deficiency in documentation which had been submitted by Sirens FC, which deficiency became known after actual participation of Sirens FC. 

“The Board assessed that the Association could not provide an adequate remedy through its bodies in this case.”

The Malta FA Appeals Board met on Monday to discuss Gżira United’s request to seek damages against Sirens after the Maroons contended that the St Paul’s Bay side had effected irregularities in their documentation process to apply for a UEFA licence after season 2020-21.

Gżira United only got to know with Sirens’ alleged actions after the latter had already participated in the UEFA Europa League qualifying round tie against Bulgarian giants CSKA Sofia.

Therefore, Gżira had no other option but to lodge a protest in front of the Malta FA where they asked to receive monetary compensation for the club’s failure to play in UEFA club competitions after they had placed just behind Sirens in the Premier League standings after the championship was halted due to COVID-19.

After two sessions of the Board of Appeal, a decision was finally taken that since the Malta FA do not have a board that can take a decision on a similar case, therefore they granted permission to Gżira United to a tribunal that does not form part of the Malta FA.

This is the first time that the Malta FA had taken such a decision following statute reforms that were approved last summer.