Former TVMSport and Malta Stars (Melita) football commentator Sandro Micallef went on record to criticize the defensive approach of Birkirkara FC at the moment when it came to defend the free kick from just outside the box after Coppola’s send off in the Meridianbet FA Trophy Final of Sunday.
Micallef went on record and criticized the decision taken by the Stripes defensive players to make only a 3 man wall to defend Ilias Martinis’ free kick.
The ex TVMSport journalist said that whilst the attention of the Meridianbet FA Trophy Final had turned onto Coppola’s red card for Birkirkara F.C. in the opening minutes of the match, he had yet to read or hear anyone asking who made the decision that at that moment, Birkirkara’s defensive wall consisted of only 3 players when defending Hibs’ freekick just outside the box.
He added ‘A big mistake! From that central position, when defending a free kick, the wall must at least be made up of 4 players—sometimes even 5 but surely not 3 palyers. In my opinion, the responsibility always lies with the goalkeeper, as he is the one who makes the final decision at that moment.
The exact text Micallef wrote on his facebook profile in Maltese was ”Illum il-ġurnata li m’għadnix nikkummenta u nirrapporta l-futbol lokali nista’ liberament nikkritika anke b’mod apert. Filwaqt li nifhem li l-attenzjoni tal-Finali tal- Meridianbet FA Trophy daret fuq il-karta l-ħamra ta’ Coppola ta’ Birkirkara F.C. fl-ewwel minuti tal-logħba għadni ma qrajt jew smajt lil ħadd isaqsi min ħa d-deċiżjoni li dak il-ħin il-barriera umana ta’ Birkirkara tkun biss ta’ 3 players !!! Żball kbir ! Minn dik il-pożizzjoni ċentrali bi free kick kontrik barriera trid tkun iffurmata bilfors minn tal-inqas minn 4 players u ġieli 5 u mhux 3. Fl-opinjoni tiegħi r-responsabilita’ tibqa’ dejjem tal-goalkeeper li dak il-ħin hu jieħu l-aħħar deċiżjoni”
Watch below how Ilias Martinis scooped the ball at the side of the 3 players forming the human wall beating Giacomo Volpe for the opening goal in the Grand Final.
Video Credit: TVMSport
