Ħamrun Spartans’ attacking midfielder Fayssal El Bakhtaoui will only be suspended for one match, instead of the original three-match ban imposed previously by the Malta Football Association disciplinary Board after his dismissal on November 21 against Hibernians.
This comes after an MFA Appeals Board decision to uphold an appeal made by the club on Thursday. The Spartans contested the initial ban, describing the ruling as very harsh against El Bakhtaoui who in their view, was provoked by the Hibernians midfielder.
The French forward was shown a straight red card by referee Slobodan Petrovic for kicking Hibernians midfielder Dunstan Vella five minutes from half-time.
El Bakhtaoui is one of Ħamrun’s new signing this season, having joined from Italian side Nocerina over the summer.
