Europe’s leading referees in Malta for UEFA winter course

The UEFA Winter Referee Course is currently being held in Malta. This is major event on the UEFA refereeing calendar as it comprises two parallel courses, one for the Elite Referees and the other for new international referees. In all, 170 persons have travelled to Malta to take part in these courses. The three-day event is co-ordinated by the UEFA Referees’ Committee, headed by Pierluigi Collina. “The main objective is to prepare active male and female referees for the second half of the season,” Kevin Azzopardi, the Director of Refereeing at the Malta FA, said. “Apart from the theoretical aspect, a number of fitness tests and practical sessions are also part of the programme.” This year’s course also sees the participation of the leading European referees who will be officiating in the upcoming World Cup in Russia. The UEFA Refereeing Services Unit is being assisted in the organisation of this event by the Malta FA Refereeing Centre. This is the third time Malta has hosted such a prestigious event after the ones held in 2000 and 2010. In April, another major refereeing event, this time for UEFA’s assistant referees, will be held in Malta.