International appointments for match officials

As club football has come to closure for this current 2021/22 season, a hectic international window over the first half of June is about to kick in, and Maltese officials will also be busy performing in terms of officiating matches across the continent.

A doubleheader awaits FIFA Badge referee Ishmael Barbara who together with his team of officials has been entrusted to officiate the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group D match between Iceland and Liechtenstein.

For the match scheduled for this Friday 3rd June in Víkingsvöllur, Iceland, Barbara will be assisted by his team which includes Roberto Vella and Duncan Sultana as his Assistants, whereas Malcolm Spiteri has been tasked with the 4th official role.

The same line-up of officials will officiate the high-profile friendly international match between Peru and New Zealand. This friendly international is scheduled for Sunday 5th of June at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona.

Meanwhile, another FIFA badge referee Trustin Farrugia Cann has also been assigned with a significant appointment, controlling the UEFA Nations League 2023 – League C match between Turkey and Faroe Islands.

The match lined up for Saturday 4th June will be played at the Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium in Istanbul, with Luke Portelli and Edward Spiteri tasked with the role of being his two assistant referees, whereby Matthew Degabriele will be joining the team as 4th official.

Also notable and worth mentioning in this appointment is the fact that this Turkey v Faroe Islands encounter is the first-ever match for local match officials to officiate with the VAR system.

In fact, FIGC representatives Daniele Doveri and Rosario Abisso will be in the VAR room assisting the four fellow Maltese officials entrusted to control this match.

Finally, one more international appointment coming up for Maltese officials, this time pertaining to Beach Soccer with female FIFA Referee Stefania Bonnici becoming the first-ever Maltese FIFA Beach Soccer Female Referee appointed to officiate at the Beach Soccer Worldwide Euro Winners’ Cup Tournament 2022.

This is scheduled between this Friday 3rd and Wednesday 8th of June, with Bonnici traveling to Nazare’ in Portugal where this prominent event is being held.