Aidan Cassar demands PBS suspend their decision to disqualify him from Eurovision

Updated at 8:35 pm with PBS legal reply 

Singer Aidan Cassar has demanded PBS suspend their decision to disqualify him from the Eurovision Song Contest.

Cassar’s lawyers, Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Charles Mercieca, have demanded the public broadcaster freeze their decision and allow him to make his case.

The singer is prepared to take further action should PBS not allow him the opportunity to explain himself.

Aidan Cassar was disqualified from competing in this year's Malta Eurovision Song Contest with his song 'Reġina' (queen). 

According to the Malta Eurovision Song Contest production team, he was disqualified because he marketed his song in the competition through unauthorised social media posts. 

This was in violation of Festival Regulations 5.3 and 5.6. 

The rule broken states that artists may not use marketing professionals, marketing officials, or marketing businesses, or participate in any marketing or promotional campaign or activity to promote themselves, the song, their participation, or to influence the public vote. 

His lawyers argue he has been singled out by the broadcaster, and insists they never gave him the space to defend himself from the claims put against him.

Having released several singles, including the hit ‘Naħseb Fik’, Cassar also was one of the big favourites in 2022.

With his song ‘Ritmu’, he qualified second with 20 points less than Emma Muscat’s ‘Out of Sight.’

No reason to suspend decision – PBS

Replying to Cassar’s legal letter, the PBS has insisted there is no reason for it to suspend its decision, saying it was final.

In a legal letter from their end, PBS’s four lawyers said Cassar has failed to deny the allegation put against him.

The public broadcaster reminded him that he knew he was breaking the rules, and was warned on more than one occasion.

“You know that your actions, contrary to others, continued in blatant disregard to the rules and warnings made to you,” PBS told Cassar.