Maltese referees in UEFA CORE Programme

TrustinFC-Jurgen-Spiteri-David-CastilloElite Match Officials Trustin Farrugia Cann, Jurgen Spiteri and David Castillo are currently participating in UEFA’s 22nd Centre of Refereeing Excellence (CORE) training programme for young referees.

In every two-year cycle, national associations are invited to send to CORE a referee and two assistant referees who show potential to become FIFA officials.

Trustin Farrugia Cann, Jurgen Spiteri and David Castillo are in fact Malta’s fourth trio participating in CORE.

Referees’ Coach Rune Pedersen and Assistant Referees’ Coach Geir Age Holen, both from Norway, have been assigned the role of guiding the Maltese trio in their development as match officials.

Rune Pedersen is an experienced UEFA mentor to the young referees. “We have detailed discussions with the referees, we see them train and watch their matches, and we help them set targets – then we come back in October and see what progress they have made,” he explained.

On Sunday, Trustin Farrugia Cann, assisted by Jurgen Spiteri and David Castillo, was in charge of a competitive match from Fourth Division football in Switzerland between United Zurich and SC Dornach (0-1).

An enthusiastic Trustin Farrugia Cann expressed the enormous satisfaction of the Maltese trio at being in Nyon for this ten-day introductory course and commented that “we are living a dream … professionalism at its best … a truly amazing learning experience!”

Photo: Copyright © domenic aquilina