Victorian futsul referee Maria Patrikis wins Official of the Year at Vic Sport Awards

Football Victoria referee Maria Patrikis has been named the Official of the Year astatine the 2025 Vic Sport Awards.

The awards, presented by the Victorian Government and Vicsport astatine the Melbourne Cricket Ground past week, recognised achievements crossed 19 categories successful Victorian sport.

Patrikis said the honour came arsenic a surprise and reflected the support she had received passim her officiating career.

“I truly consciousness humbled to person received this award,” she said successful the Football Victoria announcement.

“It has made maine bespeak connected the travel I’ve been connected and proceed to beryllium on. It’s truly made maine admit the radical who person continued to support and promote maine on this pathway.”

Maria Patrikis was the archetypal Australian pistillate to marque the FIFA Futsal Referee List. Photo: Facebook/Football Victoria

Patrikis has officiated astatine the highest levels of futsal successful Australia, including the National Futsal Championships for Football Australia and regular appointments successful the Victorian Series Futsal Premiership.

Beyond her lucifer duties, she has besides taken connected mentoring roles, helping make emerging referees and supporting the maturation of futsal officiating successful Victoria.

In November, Patrikis was selected for the inaugural AFC Futsal Referee Academy, where she undertook precocious planetary training under elder instructors from the Asian Football Confederation.

Her year culminated successful a historical accomplishment when she was named to the FIFA Futsal Referee List for 2026, becoming the archetypal Australian woman to person the appointment.