2026 course for football and futsal referees comes to an end

Following the first edition in 2024, the 2026 course to become football and futsal referees, organised by the FSGC, has now concluded. After two months of twice-weekly sessions, last Thursday the participants sat the traditional final exam in the Press Room of the San Marino Stadium. The course – led by the heads of education within the FSGC Refereeing Department – attracted many young people, especially from San Marino, who were able to take their first steps in this new adventure. The edition held two years ago injected fresh energy into the refereeing movement, with as many as six officials starting out in the Campionato Sammarinese Under 12 before quickly gaining experience in both the football and futsal championships. Some of them have also had the opportunity to officiate in international contexts, such as Mattia Mazza – who took part in a refereeing exchange with Gibraltar in futsal – or Matteo Colonna, who is currently involved in the UEFA CORE football programme. The newly qualified referees from the 2026 course will be appointed to the next Campionato Sammarinese Under 12, and the FSGC is working with the FIGC with a view to establishing a partnership that would also involve the new San Marino referees in matches from Italian youth championships.

The Associazione Sammarinese Arbitri is also constantly looking for new recruits to join its team (for information: [email protected]), and courses like the recent one are vital tools for recruitment and for encouraging young people from San Marino to take up a role that can offer many opportunities and rewards, including on the international stage.