Gżira president Sharlon Pace’s 10-match suspension reduced to one game

Club supremo was sanctioned for allegedly passing derogatory comments towards referee Matthew Degabriele

Gżira United president Sharlon Pace has managed to win his appeal against his 10-match ban for passing derogatory comments towards referee Matthew Degabriele at the end of the YoHealth Malta Premier League clash against Naxxar Lions on February 17.

The Premier League clash caused a lot of controversy as Gżira United requested a formal review of referee Degabriele’s performance in the match.

The Lions bagged three priceless points when they overcame the Maroons 4-2 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

Gżira officials were left incensed when, with 10 minutes to go, and with Naxxar Lions leading 3-2, Gżira United thought they had levelled the match when Stasa Bastic fired the ball home.

However, referee Degabriele decided to annul the ‘goal’ as he felt that Maxuell Maia committed a foul as the ball was drifting into the net.

According to the match report submitted by Degabirele, he wrote that he had dismissed Pace at the end of the match after the Gżira president allegedly made denigratory gestures to a match official, referring to bribery.

The report said that the Gżira president acted in “an aggressive manner towards the referee, both physically and verbally, by almost coming face-to-face.”

Pace was also accused of claiming Degabriele was corrupt and in some way linked to Naxxar Lions.

Initially, the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner handed Pace a 10-match suspension, a decision which was immediately sent for appeal by Gżira United.

During the appeal hearing, the police inspector was called to give evidence and he provided bodycam footage that showed some of the accusations against Pace were unfounded.

Thus, Gżira United successfully proved that Degabriele’s remarks in his report were not true, and the board decided to reduce Pace’s ban to just one match.

“The Appeals Board has reduced the suspension of our president Sharlon Pace, following the referee report from 10 games to one,” Gżira United said in a statement.

“The truth has prevailed and justice has been served in respect of our president.

“We will continue with our endeavours – Respect to be Respected remains our motto.”