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.
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.
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".
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.
"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.
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.
The winger has enjoyed a positive start to the season, during which he was called up to the England team by interim boss Lee Carsley.Anthony Gordon was spotted driving a never-before-seen carThe car is worth £320,000 and is sure to attract attention around NewcastleIt has 1,000 horsepower but could be too big for UK car parking spacesFans had a mixed reaction to Gordon's wheelsGordon, 23, has...
Couto, 22, played for Dortmund on Wednesday's Champions League clash with Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium.Yan Couto's girlfriend Mariana David had to delete a post from her Instagram storyMariana shared a screenshot from a video game rather than Borussia Dortmund's win over Club BruggeCouto's partner Mariana is a dentist, model and content creatorThe right-back's partner Mariana David didn'...
Oriana Sabatini had a unique change of careerWhile WAGs, these days, often delve into the social media world of influencing and modelling, Oriana Sabatini found her calling elsewhere.Oriana is the better half of World Cup winner and Europa League star Paulo Dybala. And while Oriana is a successful as a singer, actress and model, she was recently able to fulfil her dream of becoming an undertaker."...
EVA MURATI is back for a new season - and winning the hearts of football fans across Europe.The stunning Albanian host has been dubbed the "Queen of the Champions League."Eva presents coverage of the tournament for Albanian broadcaster Tring TV.The 29-year-old has been the glamourous face of the Champions League in the country since 2017.Her elite football knowledge and jaw-dropping looks have see...
Mikel Arteta has carved out a legendary status at Arsenal, both as a player and now as a manager.After an impressive career that saw him play for the likes of PSG, Barcelona, Everton, Rangers, and Real Sociedad, the Spanish maestro found his home at the Emirates Stadium under Arsene Wenger in 2011. He spent the last five years of his playing career there, making 150 appearances and bagging consecu...
Jermaine Jenas' wife Ellie Penfold has spoken out for the first time since her husband was sacked by the BBC for sending inappropriate messages to other women.Jenas, 41, was sacked by the BBC last month following an internal investigation into his workplace conduct.The former Tottenham and England footballer, who presented The One Show and regularly appeared on Match of the Day, was axed following...
LAURA WOODS stunned as she showed off her new engagement ring and baby bump live on TNT Sports.The presenter announced her engagement to Adam Collard earlier this week after he proposed on a recent trip to Cornwall.The pair revealed they were dating last year and have enjoyed a whirlwind romance, often updating fans with loved-up pics together.Laura showed off her ring on social media as she annou...
SKY SPORTS star Kate Tracey stunned in a bold outfit at her new Premier League job.The glamorous broadcaster, 30, turned heads with a stylish leather maroon skirt and long-sleeved blue top.She topped it off with a pair of white heels.And Tracey's outfit was very much in keeping with her surroundings.She is usually known for her coverage of horse racing.But the fan favourite is now the host of Asto...
An Italian model famed for bonking a Premier League star behind his girlfriend's back says Kyle Walker's estranged wife was right to let him move back in.Annie Kilner, 31, allowed the love rat, 34, to return to the family home on a "trial basis" after he fathered a second child with Lauryn Goodman.According to The Sun, Annie insisted the pair are not back together while a source said "they've deci...
In a bizarre move, Czech football team FK Viagem Ústí nad Labem have hired model Tana Bystronova to their media team to conduct post-match interviews.The blonde model, who routinely shares sizzling snaps of herself to her 107,000 Instagram followers, has been tasked with conducting post-match interviews with players and coaches.Dubbed the 'Czech Pamela Anderson' by some football fans, By...
- 1 Philippe Clement says John Bennett reluctantly stepped down as Rangers chairman
- 2 Premier League star won a battle with his neighbours
- 3 Eva Murati dubbed 'undisputed Queen of Champions League'
- 4 Club chief reveals failed move for Man Utd midfielder
- 5 Liverpool give Marc Guehi transfer boost
- 6 Laura Woods wears dazzling engagement ring live on TNT Sports
- 7 Stunning party girl caught up in Newcastle ace Kieran Trippier’s marriage riddle
- 8 Gabriel header earns depleted Arsenal derby victory at Tottenham
- 9 Karl Robinson pleased to see Salford come back to beat Cheltenham
- 10 Mikel Arteta praises absentee-hit Arsenal after claiming ‘ugly’ win at Spurs