Starlites coach Ferrante banned until March 31 for tripping player
A Hibernians basketball player who accused officials of being corrupt after his team lost a final in which he was tripped by the opposing team’s coach has been given a one-year ban.
Derek Brown was sanctioned by the Malta Basketball Association disciplinary commissioner on Friday, which found that he made serious allegations against match officials and the MBA.
Starlites coach Paul Ferrante, who was seen tripping Brown in a video clip of the match which went viral, was suspended from all basketball activity until March 31.
The incident happened during last Sunday’s Knock Out final, which Starlites won 75-74.
Brown told the commissioner that his post was not intended to target the Malta Basketball Association and the match officials and he had no intention to cast a bad light on the game and its officials.
Contrary to what he had written on his social media, Brown confirmed that no one from the MBA Council had contacted him to remove his posts from social media; he was only advised to do so by members of the Hibernians Club committee.
Brown issued a statement to apologise to the MBA Council for his behaviour.
“Following the dramatic incident where I was tripped during an important game last week, I wish to clarify some of my posts where I may have unintentionally misexpressed myself,” Brown wrote on his social media.
“I uploaded my posts when in pain and frustration over the incident on the pitch. I never intended to attribute any form of unlawful actions or intentions to Malta Basketball Association officials and I regret if I expressed myself wrongly.
“I will continue to put my faith in fair play and sporting justice.”
However, given the serious nature of the offence, whereby the player spread false rumours of corruption, the Disciplinary Commissioner decided to hand a one-year suspension on the Hibs player for his comments on the match officials and a three-match ban for his comments on the Malta Basketball Association.
Ferrante was charged by the local governing body for alleged misconduct after he was caught on TV footage tripping Brown when he attempted to break forward for his team.
The MBA said that during the proceedings, coach Ferrante admitted to the misconduct and expressed an apology regarding the situation.
The Starlites coach also issued a statement to apologise for the incident.
“Reference being made to the clip that has been circulating on Social Media,” Ferrante wrote on his Facebook page.
“I would like to express my apology for the episode that happened in the starting minutes of last Sunday’s KO final vs Hibs.
“My reaction was a result of an episode which happened some seconds earlier in the same game, an incident which I highlighted during my disciplinary hearing at the Malta Basketball Association
“My reaction is not justifiable for any reason whatsoever and deserves a consequence.”
The MBA said that following a thorough evaluation, Ferrante was found guilty of the charges put against him and he was suspended from all MBA activities for the entire month of March 2025.
He is further precluded from entering or approaching the Pavilion or any other venue where an MBA event or competition is held during the suspension period.
All suspensions are subject to an appeal according to the governing body’s procedures.
