Ahead of the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup , Nigerian - born referee Jude Amin Utulu has been shortlisted to officiate in the tournament after passing a two - day course in Veneto, Italy.

“Reaching Europe’s Top 16 Beach Soccer Referees’ List has enhanced my motivation to do well in these qualifiers and be selected for next year’s World Cup Finals in Portugal.

“Thanks to all those who have supported me in one way or another, I shall do my very best to be a good ambassador of Malta,”Utulu said in a statement posted on the official website of the Malta Federation.

On Friday, Jude Amin Utulu officiated the European qualifiers between England vs Greece and Moldova vs Italy .

He was a footballer in the Island Nation and played alongside Murphy Akanji at Sliema Wanderers before he decided to hang up his boots because of injury.

Photo Credit : maltafootball.com