MFA AWARDS TO MATCH OFFICIALS

The Malta FA Awards 2013 Presentation Night was held last Friday 14th June 2013 at the MFCC – Ta’ Qali, during which Christopher Lautier (referee), Konrag G. Borg (assistant referee) and Richard Casha (former referee) were honoured personally by the Director of Refereeing, Adrian D. Casha, who explained the officials’ merits.  Christopher Lautier was presented with a commemorative banner and a certificate in recognition for his eight years as international referee between 2005 and 2012.  He started his refereeing career in 1991.  His debut in the Premier division arrived in 1998.  Todate, he is the referee who controlled most matches (204) in the Maltese top division.  He was in charge of the FA Trophy Final in 2009, and the Super Cup for three times.  His international experience includes controlling Premiership matches in Scotland, and in the highest division in Libya.  His last international match was Bulgaria–Cyprus last August.    The second presentation was to Konrad G. Borg who has just ended fourteen years (1998-2012) as assistant referee in the highest division.  His career took off in 1993.  He was in the FA Trophy Final and the Super Cup Final, three times in each case.  During his eleven years as international assistant referee, he was in matches involving the Under-21 teams of England and Italy; Shalke 04 (50,000 attendance); AC Milan at Ta’ Qali; and, amongst others, the national teams of Scotland, Denmark and Wales.  On two occasions was selected by UEFA for two Final Youth Tournaments (Under-17 and Under-19).  He also assisted Maltese referees during Tunisian Premier League and Republic of Ireland Premiership matches. Last but not least, Richard Casha was honoured for his 58-year service to the Malta FA in various sectors connected to refereeing.  He started his active career in 1954 and in 1962 became one of the very first Maltese referees on the FIFA Panel.  In 1977 he was selected by UEFA for the Under-18 European Final Championship held in Belgium, during which he was in charge of a semi-final.  On the continent he refereed teams such as Barcellona, Leeds United and Stuttgart.  He was the referee to take charge of the last FA Trophy Final match played at the Empire Stadium, Gżira, in 1981.  As UEFA referee observer, Richard Casha’s last match was Galatasaray–Glasgow Rangers in 2001, with Pierluigi Collina the referee.