Mgarr F.C.’s protest regarding the eligibility of Emmanuel Asante, who scored four goals in their Challenge League match against Santa Lucia, has not been upheld, according to documents obtained by MaltaSport. The match, played on February 3rd, ended in a 5-3 victory for Santa Lucia.
Mgarr F.C. based their protest on Article 4(1) Section IV, which deals with player eligibility following a transfer. The club argued that Asante, who had a decisive impact by scoring four of Santa Lucia’s goals, should not have been permitted to play. However, after a thorough review, the protest was dismissed by Chairman Dr. Adrian Attard along with committee members Dr. James Scerri Worley and Charles Falzon, who concluded that the protest did not provide sufficient grounds to warrant overturning the match result. As a result, Mgarr United must also incur the €1000 pledged to appeal with the M.F.A appeals board
Legal representation was present on both sides during the hearing. Mgarr United was represented by Dr Mark Sant and Dr Adrian Delia, while Dr Ezekiel Psalia acted as legal counsel for Santa Lucia. Despite Mgarr’s arguments, the ruling ultimately confirmed Santa Lucia’s victory and preserved their three points from the match.
The decision is a setback for Mgarr F.C., who must now refocus their efforts on their remaining fixtures after losing a protest that could have affected the league standings. For Santa Lucia, the victory stands as a major success, further solidifying their position in the Challenge League.
