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.
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