Esther Azzopardi at the UEFA Women’s EURO 2013 in Sweden

Maltese participation in Women’s EURO 2013 being held in Sweden consists of FIFA Referee Esther Azzopardi, who is one of 24 female match officials at this top UEFA competition in Women’s football.  Esther Azzopardi is one of three 4th Officials appointed by UEFA at this Final Tournament, the others being Carina Vitulano (Italy) and Monika Mularczyk (Poland). On the opening day on Wednesday, UEFA appointed Esther Azzopardi as 4th Official with FIFA Referee Bibiana Steinhaus (Germany) in the derby match between hosts Sweden and Denmark at the Gamla Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, which ended in an exciting 1-1 draw.  Esther Azzopardi was also the 4th Official in the France vs Russia match (3-1) with FIFA Referee Judith Kulcsar (Hungary), at the Norrkopings Idrottsparken in Norrkoping on Friday and in the Norway vs Netherlands match (1-0) with Teodora Albon (Romania) at the Kalmar Arena in Kalmar on Sunday. Esther’s next appointment is the Denmark vs Finland clash at the Gamla Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg on Tuesday.  She will be assisting FIFA Referee Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine). Contacted in Kalmar, Sweden, Esther Azzopardi expressed her satisfaction in representing Malta at such an important Women’s competition.  “This wonderful experience will remain in my memories forever.  The atmosphere at matches is electrifying.  The match between rivals Sweden and Denmark on the opening day attracted a sell-out capacity of 16,128 spectators.”