Farrugia - Malta's first FIFA woman official

Esther Farrugia was yesterday presented with the FIFA badge by Malta FA president Joe Mifsud.

The badge is a milestone for local football as it is the first ever for a Maltese female referee.

Farrugia has proved that through sheer hard work and dedication she succeeded in reaching the top.

Her regular training was of utmost importance and I can say without hesitation that she puts some of her colleagues to shame with her determination to do well in her career.

It is not the first time that Farrugia was seen urging on one of her colleagues when falling back in some training exercise.

Obviously, having proved herself in local football she will now have to go one step further and control international matches, firstly, under the auspices of UEFA and then even in FIFA competitions.

Farrugia, 25, is a Physical Education teacher employed with the Department of Education. She takes part in a variety of sport with rugby being one of them.

She also played as a goalkeeper with Malta's national team, a role she had to give up as she rose through the ranks of refereeing.

If Farrugia was ever spoilt for choice, her decision was certainly influenced by her father's football career. Ronnie Farrugia was for many years one of Malta's senior assistant referees, taking part in many internationals at club and international level.

Farrugia has made her family proud. She will continue with the good work she is doing on the field of play where she is greatly respected by players and officials and shows no fear or favour.

Players know where she stands and that she will accept no nonsense.

I am sure every football supporter will give her the encouragement she needs to start yet another career on the international scene.

Other new appointments to the FIFA panels were those of Mariano Debono on the Assistant Referees Panel. He also rose through the ranks and after a spell of refereeing concentrated more on line duties.

Debono's great interest and dedication were rewarded when the MFA Referees Board recommended him to FIFA and he was accepted.

Another new face is that of Norman Vella. He is the second FIFA Futsal official and joins Ian Miller on the list. Vella had started off as a football referee before taking a break. Then, he decided to make a return to five-a-side football refereeing.

FIFA, meanwhile, confirmed Joe Attard, Adrian Casha, Anton Zammit and Chris Lautier as referees within its fold.

On their part, assistant referees Philip Agius, Ingmar Spiteri, Konrad G. Borg, Joe Rapa, Alan Camilleri, Joe Camilleri and Charles Micallef were retained for another competitive season by the world governing body of football.