Saints ‘expect to be penalised for being responsible’

Sta Lucia FC decided not to take the field for their U-19 youth match against Naxxar Lions after discovering a number of COVID-19 cases in their squad despite the MFA ruling that the match should still go ahead as there were no risks.

The Saints were due to face the Lions on Tuesday but a day before the match one of the players from the Sta Lucia U-19 squad tested positive for COVID-19 while they had three other players who were experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and were due to take the test.

“Yesterday, our youth U-19 team did not field a team for their match against Naxxar FC,” Sta Lucia FC said in a statement.

“The reason is simply that the day before a youth player tested positive to COVID-19 and on the day of the match we were informed that three more youth players woke up sick, experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and were due to take the test.”

Sta Lucia FC said in the statement, that despite the circumstances the MFA felt that the match could be played as it posed no risks.

“MFA were fully knowledgeable of the situation and also were informed that other players were concerned to play since it seemed that the cases were from a cluster of youth team players,” STA Lucia FC said.

“However, MFA insisted that there was no risk and the math had to be played. In the circumstances, the club felt that the primary responsibility was the health of the players, coaches, technical staff, and match officials and therefore decided not to honour the fixture.

“We now await await to be penalised for being responsible.”