Malta retains four refs, eight assistant refs on FIFA Panel

Malta will again have four referees and eight assistant referees on the FIFA Panel for 2018.The presentation of the FIFA badges to the international match officials was made during the annual Christmas reception, hosted jointly by the Malta FA’s Refereeing Centre and the Malta Football Referees Association (MFRA) at the db San Antonio Hotel on Tuesday. Alex Manfrè, the Malta FA vice-president and Chairman of the Referees’ Committee, presided over the presentation of the FIFA badges in the presence of Dr Angelo Chetcuti and Dr Matthew Paris, General Secretary and Vice-President of the MFA respectively, Kevin Azzopardi, the MFA Director of Refereeing, and Alexie Tabone, the head of the MFRA. The Maltese match officials on the FIFA Panel for 2018 are: FIFA REFEREESTrustin Farrugia Cann; Clayton Pisani; Alan Mario Sant; Fyodor Zammit FIFA ASSISTANT REFEREESAlan Camilleri; Christopher Francalanza; Luke Portelli; Mitchell Scerri; Edward Spiteri; Jurgen Spiteri; Duncan Sultana; Roberto Vella FIFA FUTSAL REFEREEMatthew Vella FIFA BEACH SOCCER REFEREESJonathan Mallia; Jude Amin Utulu In his address, Kevin Azzopardi, the Malta FA’s Director of Refereeing, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to all the referees, especially those on the FIFA panel, for their dedication. “You’ve been excellent ambassadors for Maltese refereeing and your confirmation as FIFA referees recognises your efforts and good performances,” Azzopardi said. Looking ahead to 2018, Azzopardi said the new year will bring greater opportunities. The Malta FA has been selected by UEFA to host the winter course for the leading referees in Europe in January ahead of next year’s World Cup in Russia. Another UEFA seminar for assistant referees will also be held in Malta in April. The MFA Director of Refereeing announced that the pre-season MFA seminar for elite referees will take place in Germany next summer while more referee exchanges are planned for 2018.  He also highlighted the on-going initiatives of the Recruitment Unit and Referees Academy to entice more youngsters to take up refereeing. For his part, Alexie Tabone, the MFRA President, said the fact that, for the second year running, the annual Christmas reception was organised jointly with the MFA Refereeing Centre reflected the excellent relationship between the two bodies. Tabone thanked the referees for their dedication and reaffirmed the MFRA’s commitment to promoting and protecting the interests of the match officials.