Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1491408
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 1 FEBRUARY 2023 NEWS Portelli can contest decision before appeals board A garage complex in Triq To- ni Bajada, San Pawl il-Baħar, caught on fire on Tuesday evening, at around 5:20pm. The Civil Protection Depart- ment was called on-site to as- sist with controlling the fire. A police spokesperson told MaltaToday surrounding res- idences were evacuated for safety precautions, but no in- juries have been reported. Residents evacuated as fire breaks out at a garage complex in St Paul's Bay AN elderly Żurrieq resident was hospitalised on Tuesday at around 7:30 am, after be- ing in a traffic collision in Vjal l-Avjazzjoni, Ħal Luqa. According to preliminary findings, an accident occurred between a Hyundai l20 driven by a 61-year-old man from Ħal Safi and a Kymco motorbike driven by a 60-year-old man. A medical team on-site as- sisted the police, but the vic- tim was taken to Mater Dei for additional treatment He was later certified as hav- ing suffered from grievous in- juries. Police investigations are un- derway. Elderly motorcyclist hospitalised for grievous injuries after Luqa collision CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The MFA had turned down construction magnate Joseph Portelli's registration as a player, referring his case to its ethics com- mittee on Monday. Sources told this newspaper the MFA administration acknowledged his resigna- tion but turned down his registration as a Hamrun player. Portelli, 43, last week stepped down as president of the club, which is comfortably leading the Premier League table, and is on course to win its second league title under Portelli's presidency. The MFA administration wrote back to the Hamrun club on Monday, calling on them to provide assurances that the con- tractual obligations with players will be honoured, should Portelli no longer be president. MaltaToday is informed the MFA's ethics committee met on Monday, with Hamrun Spartans provided the opportunity to have their say. The MFA executive based its Tuesday afternoon decision on the ethics commit- tee's recommendation. Portelli will now be allowed to appeal the decision, but will not be registered with Hamrun for the 2022/23 season as the transfer window closes at midnight on Tuesday. Hamrun Spartans are currently leading the BOV Premier League with nine points over second place Gzira and on course to win their second league title under Portel- li's presidency. They have won their last five league matches and qualified for the second round of the FA Trophy with a win over Gozitan team Għajnsielem. Joseph Muscat enters the fray This newspaper is informed that Malta Football Association President Bjorn Vas- sallo as well as the Premier League's pres- ident, Joseph Muscat, had not appreciated the move by the Gozitan mega-developer to resign his presidency of Hamrun Spar- tans in a bid to be registered as a footballer with the club. Sources told MaltaToday that both Vas- sallo and Muscat had approached Portelli on the matter. The matter is also being watched by Eu- rope's football governing body, UEFA, where Portelli's sudden move to swap his presidency for a footballing role could have some sort of impact on licensing that af- fect Hamrun Spartan's chances of playing in European competitions, a vital source of income for clubs. "That would be something that other Pre- mier clubs would be keen about," a source told MaltaToday. "Portelli says it was al- ways his dream to play in the Premier... but he is imposing his whim on a club that can hardly say no to him." MFA president Bjorn Vassallo Joseph Muscat