Malcolm Spiteri’s decision to send off Birkirkara defender Alessandro Coppola during the Meridianbet FA Trophy final has been fully vindicated by the Malta Football Referees Association (MFRA), which pointed to the clear guidance under IFAB Law 12 regarding red cards for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) outside the penalty area.
The incident occurred just 13 minutes into the highly anticipated final between Birkirkara and Hibernians. Miullen of Hibernians was bearing down on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat when he was impeded by Coppola. Spiteri, without hesitation, produced a straight red card. The decision sparked outrage among Birkirkara supporters, who felt the punishment was too harsh so early in the game. However, the referee’s hands were tied by the letter of the law.
According to IFAB Law 12, when a player commits a foul outside the penalty area that denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, the mandatory sanction is a red card. There is no option for a yellow card in such cases, regardless of the foul’s intensity or the minute in which it takes place. The criteria are clear and objective: direction of play, distance to goal, likelihood of controlling the ball, and the location and number of defenders. In this instance, all these elements were present. Miullen was heading directly towards the goal, had the ball within playing distance, and there were no other defenders between him and the goalkeeper.
The MFRA released a statement following the match to defend the referee’s application of the law, emphasising that Spiteri had implemented the DOGSO rule correctly and without deviation.
“Where a foul denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity outside the penalty area, the law is clear. It is a red card. A yellow card is not an option. This decision is in accordance with IFAB Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct,” the association said.
Despite playing over 80 minutes with a man less, Birkirkara remained competitive. Hibernians took the lead from the resulting free-kick through Antonis Martis, but Maxuell Maia equalised later with a well-taken strike. Yet the numerical disadvantage eventually told. With less than six minutes remaining, Kurt Shaw rose to head home the winner for Hibernians, sealing a 2–1 victory and booking their place in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.
While emotions ran high among the Birkirkara fans, the laws of the game are clear. The timing of the foul, whether in the opening minutes or the final seconds, does not alter its consequence if all DOGSO conditions are met. Spiteri was in an excellent position to view the incident and managed the rest of the match with composure and control.
In the end, the referee applied the rules exactly as IFAB intended. The decision may have changed the course of the final, but it was legally correct and procedurally flawless.
