Ħamrun Spartans announced that on Monday they had submitted their response to the appeal submitted by Bulgarian side Levski Sofia over the result of their UEFA Conference League tie that took place in Bulgaria last week.
Levski Sofia had filed a complaint to UEFA against the result of their Conference League defeat to Ħamrun Spartans after the referee failed to spot a Maltese player’s infringement before scoring a crucial goal.
Reports said on Saturday that the Bulgarian side had filed a protest to the European governing body UEFA over the Spartans’ second goal scored by Ryan Camenzuli.
Levski are contending that Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs had committed a technical error when after the Bulgarian side score their equaliser, he failed to spot that Dodo had run beyond the halfway line before play resumed before the kick-off.
The appeal is due to be heard by the UEFA UEFA Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Board on Tuesday.
“We would like to inform our members and supporters, that the Club has earlier today submitted the Official Reply to an Appeal submitted to UEFA by Levski Sofia following our away match at the Vivacom Arena in Sofia, Bulgaria last Thursday,” Spartans Chief Executive Officer Marcel Bonnici said.
“I would to thank all those who contributed and assisted with their technical and professional guidance in drafting this document at such short notice.”
Bonnici thanked Carlo Rombola (International Legal Advisor), Dr David Farrugia Sacco (Club Legal Advisor), MFA president Bjorn Vassallo, MFA vice-presidents Dr Matthew Paris, Adrian Casha, general secretary Angelo Chetcuti, Alan Mario Sant, Head of MFA Referees Department, Club officials Victor Cassar, Paul Borg, and Club secretary Stephen Saliba.
Igor Radojic, who is also the secretary of the refereeing committee of the Serbian FA, told Serbian publication Alo.rs over the weekend that the Bulgarian club’s chances of success in their appeal look remote.
“Yes, there is a violation of Rule 8, which explains how a kick-off should be taken at the start of each half or after a goal,” Igor Radojic, who is also the secretary of the refereeing committee of the Serbian FA, told Serbian publication Alo.rs.
“This should have been noticed by the head referee, his assistants, or the fourth official.
I understand Levski’s reasons for filing an appeal, but that will not be enough to call for a new match. The violation of the rule is not like that.”
The Bulgarian side are urging UEFA to follow its rules and order the match to be replayed since a technical error has been committed by Kovacs.
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