A week after the referee exchange with San Marino Football Federation – when Maltese and Sammarinese officials controlled domestic top level games in each other’s country – the coming weekend will see this season’s third such experience materialise, this time with the Gibraltar Football Association.

Elite officials Mario Apap and Emanuel Grech (referees), Paul Apap and Sammy Attard (assistant referees), will be travelling to Gibraltar to take charge of two Gibraltarian Premier League matches at the Victoria Stadium. Mario Apap will control Lincoln FC vs Mons Calpe SC on Saturday while Emanuel Grech will control Europa FC vs Gibraltar United FC on Sunday. In both matches, Mario Apap and Emanuel Grech will alternate their roles as referee and fourth official.

On the same dates, referees and assistant referees from Gibraltar will be in Malta to control two Premier League and Division 1 matches.

As always, from such matches in exchange programmes away from their shores, officials in the top category gain invaluable experience not only for their future local and international refereeing careers, but also on a personal level; which give the Malta FA much satisfaction in its endeavour and aims for the refereeing sector to be in the highest possible level.

In the near future, the Malta FA Refereeing Centre will be announcing other such referee exchanges.