A FEMALE Champions League official has revealed she is sick of being called "sexy ref". She was also forced to delete her Instagram after receiving sexist messages on the platform. 7 Emanuela Rusta has revealed she is sick of being called 'sexy ref' Credit: Getty 7 The Champions League official was forced to delete her Instagram due to sexist messages Credit: Instagram 7 Rusta has made history by refereeing in the Albanian top flight and internationally Credit: Getty Emanuela Rusta is one of Albania's top referees and has already made history in her officiating career.
The 30-year-old is the first woman to referee in her country's male top flight and the first Albanian international referee. She is now set to take charge of Thursday's Women's Champions League qualifying tie between Sporting Lisbon and Real Madrid . However, ahead of the match, she has hit out at headlines calling her "sexy ref" instead of focussing on her ability as a referee.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL GETTING SHIRTY Fans convinced Haaland told Inter star to 'f*** off' seconds after City draw Rusta told AFP, via Marca : "They should focus more on my professionalism than on other things. "You have to fight hard to be accepted. You have to blow the glass ceiling to pieces.
"Refereeing is not a question of gender, but of competence. To make good decisions you need to know the rules of the game perfectly, but also to be physically fit and have a great ability to concentrate." Headlines written about Rusta include one calling her "the sexy referee who raises the temperature".
Most read in Football STRIKER NICKED SPFL star charged after £600k cannabis haul seized at major UK airport FANS FLASHPOINT Celtic bar 'attacked' by Slovan Bratislava fans before big Euro kick-off WORD TO THE WEISS Ex-Rangers man let his side down in Celtic Champions League cauldron MAN BYS Celtic players' ratings after five-star show kicks off Champions League in style FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS Meanwhile, another from a Champions League match in 2022 claimed she "stole the show" despite only being the fourth official. She added: "The (Albanian) Referees Association has always focused on promoting women, so my case is not a coincidence or the end of the process. Refs' chief Howard Webb reveals Declan Rice red card was correct - but Arsenal wronged by different incorrect decision 7 "I hope that the day is not far off when there are four women refereeing a match in the top men's category.
"Although it is apparently a predominantly male environment, I feel respected and appreciated for the work I do on the field. "As long as you consider it a professional relationship, you are correct, objective and dedicated, there is no lack of help from colleagues or the Association." Prior to becoming a referee, Rusta played basketball back in Albania before switching to football whilst studying physical education.
She now balances her officiating career with working as a secondary school PE teacher. Read more on the Scottish Sun 'TOTAL CHAOS' Scots beauty spot CLOSED two days in a row as campervans gridlock narrow road HOT STUFF Scots heatwave is hotter than Spanish costas as temperatures surge to 25C Thursday's European clash will mark her first Women's Champions League match as referee. However, Rusta has already taken charge of 15 Albanian men's SuperLiga matches, including two this season.
7 Rusta also works as a secondary school PE teacher in Albania Credit: Instagram 7 The 30-year-old has taken charge of two men's SuperLiga matches already this season Credit: Getty 7 Rusta will officiate the Women's Champions League qualifier between Sporting Lisbon and Real Madrid Credit: Getty.
