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.
CHELSEA star Enzo Fernandez is trying to repair his romance with Valentina Cervantes after discovering an Argentina team-mate was trying to seduce her, it was sensationally claimed today.The pair sparked reunion rumours last week after reportedly being spotted kissing and holding hands in London.Enzo Fernandez is ‘trying again with Valentina Cervantes after an Argentina team-mate tried to ma...
A FIRE broke out just outside the Etihad as thousands of fans were evacuated under two hours before Manchester City's Champions League clash.The Premier League champions host Club Brugge needing a win to guarantee qualification into the knockout stages after a nightmare season so far.A merchandise van caught fireEmergency services put out the fireAnd things got off the a dramatic start when a larg...
JUSTIN KLUIVERT has emerged as one of the most impressive players in the Premier League in recent weeks.The Bournemouth star has sprung into the limelight having found a golden touch in front of goal.He is dating stunning TikToker Shanna TaihuttuKluivert, 25, has managed 11 goals in 25 league games this season but his best game came against Newcastle.The attacker netted a hat-trick at St James' Pa...
A LALIGA footballer and his wife reportedly had a gun pointed at them during an armed robbery of their home.Athletic Bilbao forward Alex Berenguer, 29, and model Sofia Jem were targeted at their villa in Mungia, in the Basque country, on Monday night.Spanish footballer Alex Berenguer and his wife Sofia Jem were victims of an armed robbery attemptAccording to El Correo in Spain, three armed men wea...
RUBEN AMORIM has been seen for the first time with wife Maria Joao Diogo in Manchester.The Manchester United manager was spotted with his partner as they headed out to celebrate his 40th birthday.Ruben Amorim was spotted with wife Maria in WilmslowAmorim, 40, had joked that he felt closer to 50, having been in post at Old Trafford for two months.He has been married to the interior designer since 2...
ENGLAND ace Kyle Walker's wife Annie Kilner is in talks for a huge ITV reality show, The Sun can reveal.Insiders said Annie is a top target for Celebrity Big Brother - with the booker for the ITV series asking her reps to name their fee.Annie Kilner is a top target for Celebrity Big BrotherA source said: "ITV have approached Annie's team about her taking part in the upcoming series of Celebrity Bi...
ASHLEY COLE and Peter Crouch partied alongside their Wags as they enjoyed a luxury skiing holiday.The two former England stars were joined by their wives Sharon Cole and Abbey Clancy on their trip to Verbier in Switzerland.Cole's wife Sharon shared a snap of them ready to hit the slopesCrouch and wife Abbey Clancy were all smiles at a luxury restaurantThe couples hit the slopes and the dancefloor,...
Ashlyn Castro appears to have won the heart of Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham and the stunner has previously been snapped with one of the world's hottest menAshlyn Castro is Jude Bellingham's new flameJude Bellingham is winning both on and off the pitch.Real Madrid's latest sensation has the Bernabeu in the palm of his hands, but his heart belongs to jaw-dropping model Ashlyn Castro. The Am...
The stunning former WAG of a Premier League star has been called ‘forever gorgeous’ by followers as she showed off a drastic new look to her fansThe Spanish model previously dated the Premier League ace for over four years before their relationship ended in late 2023. Marta has amassed a massive following of her own, with over 3.3million followers on Instagram.Marta wowed her fans in a...
ANGE POSTECOGLOU dished out a death stare in another chilling exchange with a Tottenham fan.The Aussie boss even walked BACK to the tunnel confrontation after Leicester inflicted Spurs' sixth defeat in seven Premier League games.Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou reappeared to glare at a fanJust last month Postecoglou was guided away from visiting fans following a heated clash of words after a 1-0...
- 1 Kerkez and £83m ace join as Salah signs
- 2 Enzo 'trying to fix romance with childhood sweetheart'
- 3 'exciting' Betis on signing Man Utd flop
- 4 Kyle Walker’s wife in talks with ITV for HUGE reality show
- 5 Ashley Cole, wife Sharon, Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy on luxury skiing holiday
- 6 Meet Jude Bellingham's new model WAG
- 7 Atletico Madrid in talks for Arsenal Zinchenko
- 8 Napoli confirm Garnacho interest
- 9 LaLiga ace Alex Berenguer & model wife ‘have gun pointed at them’
- 10 Transfer news and rumours LIVE