Former referee Antonio Briguglio recognised in Republic Day’s honours list

Former Malta international referee and sports administrator Antonio Briguglio was honoured for his long-standing service to Maltese sport when he was awarded a Medal for services to the Republic (Midalja għall-Qadi tar Repubblika).

Briguglio is mostly remembered for his long career as a football referee. He started his career in 1961 and for 16 years he was on the FIFA/UEFA referees board and also served as a UEFA observer and also attained the UEFA C Licence in football coaching.  

Briguglio was the only Maltese referee to be appointed by FIFA to control the match between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Asia and was named as assistant referee for the UEFA U-21 final between England and Germany that was played at the Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona.

During his career, he attended several advanced courses for referees and administration that were hosted by UEFA, the English FA, the Italian Football Federation and the Germany Olympic Committee,

Briguglio also occupied various administrative positions, which included president of the Malta Football Referees Association, and member of the MFA Referees Board between 1985 and 1987.

Prior to his career in football, Briguglio was a member of the Maltese team that took part in the Motor Scooter Championship in Rome where he won a bronze medal.

He was also an active member within the Malta Basketball Association where between 1974 and 1996 he served as referee where he was appointed to take charge of several international matches, including at the Arabian Championships in Tunisia.

In the early 1980s, he set up the Federazzjoni Klabbs tal-Boċċi for whom he was the first president.

Briguglio also served in several positions with the Malta Amateur Athletics Association and the Malta Table Tennis Association. He was also president of the Kerygma Youths and chairman of the organising committee of the Volleyball Marathon that is organised in aid of id-Dar tal-Providenza.