Former Malta Referee Antonio Briguglio Dies Aged 91

Former Malta referee Antonio “Tony” Briguglio, regarded as one of the country’s most respected match officials, has died at the age of 91.

Briguglio began his refereeing career in 1961 and went on to establish himself among Malta’s leading officials. His reputation for fairness, professionalism and authority on the pitch earned him a place on FIFA and UEFA panels, where he officiated at top European and international matches for 16 years.

Following his retirement from active refereeing, Briguglio continued contributing to the game as a UEFA Referees’ Observer, helping mentor and assess officials across Europe. He later became a familiar voice to many football fans through his work as a commentator and analyst.

Prime Minister Robert Abela paid tribute to Briguglio, describing him as one of the finest referees Maltese football has ever produced and praising his integrity, dignity and professionalism.

In 2022, Briguglio was awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika in recognition of his lifelong contribution to Maltese sport.

Rest in peace Antonio Briguglio.

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Dylan Attard

Dylan Attard is a Social Media Executive at Lovin Malta and a proud Gozitan with a passion for digital media, content creation, and social trends. Outside of work, you’ll usually find him at the gym, watching series and keeping up with everything happening online.