Richard Stagno Navarra, a former international football referee, passed away yesterday aged 66.

Stagno Navarra, so synonymous with the game, yesterday attended the annual general meeting of the Malta Football Referees Assoc-iation in Qormi where new officials were elected.

He felt unwell at the end of the meeting and died in hospital a few hours later.

Stagno Navarra started referee-ing way back in the mid-1960s and remained active even after deciding to pack his uniform and whistle. In fact, after retiring he dedicated most of his time to the administrative sector in football officiating.

Stagno Navarra also kept the sporting public abreast with new regulations through his writings in the local media.

His latest contribution was published in The Times on June 6 and centred on amendments to the rule concerning penalty-taking.

He occupied the post of general secretary within the Malta Football Referees Association and was also a member of the Malta FA Referees Board, carrying out the duties of match inspector in the local Premier League on occasions.

The funeral will be held on Tuesday morning at the Balzan parish church.

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