FIFA Beach Soccer Referee Jude Amin Utulu is currently officiating in the Euro Winners Cup 2013 being held in the Italian town of San Benedetto del Tronto in the province of Ascoli Piceno.

Jude Amin Utulu’s appointment is the first ever international participation by a Maltese referee in beach soccer. Malta has two international beach soccer referees, the other being Stefan Pace.

The Euro Winners Cup is organised by the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) on behalf of Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) S.L., Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona (Spain).

The maiden edition of this competition will open a new chapter in the history of this sport – a continental club championship having the different European champions competing to become the best club in Europe.

The stadium built at the Riviera delle Palme on the Adriatic coast – one of the key stops of the Italian National League – will host the competition’s matches.

A total of 20 teams are participating as follows:

Group A – Sambenedettese BS (ITA), Falfala Kfar Qassem BS Club (ISR), Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS), Gimnàstic de Tarragona (ESP)
Group B – Lexmax (MDA), CF Os Belenenses (POR), SC Montredon Bonneveine (FRA), Besiktas JK (TUR)
Group C – Goldwin Pluss (HUN), AO Kefallinia (GRE), Bate Borisov (BLR), Beach Soccer Egmond (NED)
Group D – Griffin (UKR), Viareggio BS (ITA), Grasshopper Club Zurich (SUI), Sandown Sociedad (ENG)
Group E – ASD Terracina BS (ITA), Grembach Lodz (POL), Kreiss (LTV), Baku FC (AZE)

Photo: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar