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UPDATED: Mosta youths arrested in Sweden for 'free-for-all' fight during competition
A number of young Maltese football players and their coach have been arrested in Sweden, following a massive brawl in the football pitch during an under-15 competition.
9 July 2010, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
1 min read
The incident happened in Ostersund, Sweden, when the referee apparently issued five red cards to the Maltese side – so far not identified in the Maltese press as Ilves Football School of Mosta – and a brawl ensued when one of the expelled players apparently ran up to the referee and performed a ‘kung-fu’ kick and knocked him to the ground.
As a free-for-all fight ensued, at least ten police officers were called to the scene and arrested the Maltese who were reportedly ‘uncontrollable’.
The game had to be abandoned with the Maltese losing 1-0 to the team of Verdal SL from Norway.
The referee and some other players had to be hospitalised for injuries.
Meanwhile, the has story made national news in Scandinavia with Swedish, Danish and Norwegian broadcasters reporting the incident.
The Maltese team has been expelled from the competition, that is known to have a participation of 230 teams from 10 countries, including Brazil and Argentina.
Over the years, a number of Maltese teams had participated in the tournament which is known to be Sweden's oldest youth cup, and the largest in the country.
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Fair reporting job by this newspaper. I read numerous online articles and it is quite disturbing to see how The Malta Sunday Times had written the same article making it appear that it WAS NOT the fault of the Maltese Players. After they started swearing at the referee and getting red carded, THEN the brawl began. The Ilves football team should not be invited to any tournament. The coach should be fired also!!! Take responsibility Ilves (and their coach) and own up to your grevious misgivings.
Albert Zammit •
It is this 'team' that should be investigated, Mr Chetcuti, and not the referee. During the game, what the ref says goes! Or are we going to start questioning everything and everybody, without the slightest respect to authority? If we undermine the authority of the referee, in the eyes of these youths (louts?), we would be sending the worst possible message.
Anyway, a word must be said on these 'coaches'-of-sorts! The first duty that a coach has is to promote discipline among his players, and respect towards authorities. But it's not the first time that we meet coaches who blaspheme, speak bad language, are vicious and disrespectful. This has to stop.
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As a Swede from Ostersund i think soccerplayers from Malta should be enclosed from playing in Sweden from many years.
Maby referees in Malta chooses how to ref his match? If referring to this game sportmanship and rules seems not to be so important???
In sweden we play and ref by the book!
Martin Scicluna •
So was the referee against the maltese side or it was that the referee deicided to ref this match how he wanted. What action is the MFA going to do?
