Maltese referee Alan Mario has qualified to officiate in UEFA’s youth mini-tournaments and in the qualification round matches of the Champions League and the Europa League after undergoing UEFA’s Introductory Course.

The 19th edition of this course for new referees was held in Malta over the past days and attracted a participation of 52 referees from 34 European countries.

Sant had to undergo a stiff physical, medical and mental test followed by a full FIFA fitness test and an interview in accordance with the requirements before reaching the set threshold.

The Maltese referee said it was an honour for him to have been nominated by the MFA to follow such a course and expressed his satisfaction at having passed the test. He remarked that he looked forward to representing the MFA and Malta in his future appointments and thanked the Maltese association for providing the service of a physical trainer who follows the referees in their physical preparation. He also thanked those responsible for the referees in the MFA’s set-up and his fellow colleagues, the other referees.

Meanwhile FIFA Referees Marco Borg, Chris Lautier and Clayton Pisani were among those who passed their UEFA test in the Advanced Group of the 19th edition of the Referees Winter Course which is currently being organised in Malta by UEFA.

Such a course is intended by the European organisation to provide the referees with an update of the latest interpretation on the Laws of the Game while assessing their medical, physical and mental condition according to international requirements.

Among the participants were some of Europe’s top brass referees, who will be in charge of matches during the finals of the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, later on this year.