Watch: Referee Malcolm Spiteri was right to show red card to Coppola, says MFRA

The Malta Football Referees Association issued a statement to defend the decision taken by match official Malcolm Spiteri to send off Birkirkara defender Alessandro Coppola in the opening minutes of Sunday’s FA Trophy final against Hibernians.

Hibernians won their 11th FA Trophy when a late Kurt Shaw goal handed the Paolites a dramatic 2-1 victory.

However, the match was severely conditioned by Coppola’s dismissal after only 13 minutes of play. The Italian defender was shown a straight red card after impeding Hibernians forward Miullen, who was through on goal.

The decision left Birkirkara to play more than 80 minutes with a man less, giving Hibernians a major advantage in their quest to win the Trophy final.

Spiteri’s decision left the Birkirkara clan irate, but the Malta Referees Association said that the referee’s decision was correct as he applied Law 12 to perfection.

“Following the FA Trophy Final between Birkirkara and Hibernians, the MFRA wishes to clarify the application of Law 12,” the statement said.

“When a foul denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) outside the penalty area, the law is clear: if it is a foul, it is a red card, regardless of the intensity of the foul or the timing of the offence. A yellow card is not an option.

“Accordingly, the referee correctly sent off Birkirkara player number 27 for committing a foul that denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

“This decision is in accordance with IFAB Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct.”

Hibernians took the lead from the resulting free-kick when Antonis Martinis caught by surprise Birkirkara goalkeeper Gianluca Volpe.

Birkirkara managed to level matters through another free-kick action, with Maxuell Maia curling the ball past goalkeeper Pablo Sanchez.

But in the end, it was Hibernians who had the final say when Kurt Shaw headed home the winner with less than six minutes to go and secure a place in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers this summer.