Court of Arbitration for Sport rejects Swieqi United protest over lack of jurisdiction

The decision concerns a Challenge League match between the two sides, which took place on September 13, 2025, in which Swieqi United won 2-1.

On the day after the match, Melita protested in front of the Malta FA Protests Board against Swieqi United, alleging that the registration of Souza Barros Ferreira Felipe had been carried out in breach of Article 9A (a) of the Association’s Competition Rules.

According to MFA regulations, a Challenge League team can register five overseas players, with four playing for the senior side and one for their youth team.

Swieqi United had registered more overseas players than the MFA regulations stipulated.

Melita argued that such irregular registration rendered the player a “non bona fide” player within the rules, and by doing so, Swieqi allegedly violated Article 9 of the Competition Rules.

Melita had requested the Malta FA Protests Board to declare the match forfeited by Swieqi and to award the three points to Melita.

In its defence, Swieqi had admitted that it had registered five non-Maltese players and that the ineligible player participated in the match.

However, Swieqi asserted that the players Mawuena Salam Kojo and Bergamini Dennis were eligible to play in the Youth League and thus, Swieqi were entitled to register five non-Maltese players in total.

In its ruling, the MFA Protests Board rendered its decision to uphold Melita’s protest and awarded a 3-0 win to Melita.

Swieqi proceeded to file a Statement of Appeal with CAS against the decision on October 15, 2025, in accordance with Articles R47 and R48 of the CAS Code of Sports-related Arbitration.

Swieqi lodged the complaint despite the fact that the MFA had informed them their decision could not be appealed.

The Malta FA was represented by Legal Services Manager/Prosecutor Dr Herman Mula, General Secretary Dr Maria Azzopardi, and Senior vice president Dr Matthew Paris.

Following an arbitration process held this month, CAS ruled that the case is dismissed on lack of jurisdiction of CAS.

Swieqi United were represented by Dr Robert Dingli – Dingli & Dingli Law Firm.