FIFA Referees, Assistant Referees confirmed for 2018

Malta retained the quota of four referees and eight referees on the FIFA Panel for 2018. This was revealed on Tuesday during a Christmas reception at the db San Antonio Hotel + Spa hosted by the Referees Department of the Malta Football Association and the Malta Football Referees Association where the FIFA Badges were presented by MFA Vice-President and Chairman of the Referees’ Committee Alex Manfre.

The only change from last year is the reduction of one referee from the list of FIFA Futsal Referees.

The referees on the FIFA Panel for 2018 are:
FIFA Referees: Trustin Farrugia Cann, Clayton Pisani, Alan Mario Sant and Fyodor Zammit
FIFA Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Christopher Francalanza, Luke Portelli, Mitchell Scerri, Edward Spiteri, Jurgen Spiteri, Duncan Sultana, Roberto Vella
FIFA Futsal Referees: Matthew Vella
FIFA Beach Soccer Referees: Jonathan Mallia, Jude Amin Utulu

Director of Refereeing Kevin Azzopardi said that the event was the celebration of hard work. He thanked the international referees for being excellent ambassadors as it was thanks to their good performances that they were confirmed.

Kevin Azzopardi said that 2018 will provide greater opportunities. He mentioned the fact that MFA was entrusted by UEFA to host the winter course for top and new referees in Malta in January was a great achievement. Similar UEFA seminars for assistant referees will be held in April.

The MFA Director of Refereeing added that the association is fully aware that some of the Elite referees are getting older and some are close to calling it a day and therefore, it was of utmost importance to motivate the younger referees.

“Many opportunities are coming our way. It would be a pity not to take full advantage of these opportunities,” said Azzopardi.

He revealed that the seminar for Elite referees next summer will be held in Germany and that for the coming months, more referees exchanges were planned.

MFRA President Alexei Tabone also stressed on the need for referees to take full advantage of the opportunities at their disposal.