Aggeliki Katsalas is a second-generation Greek Australian football referee, born and raised in Melbourne, who is currently pursuing her refereeing career in Chios.

Her love for football began at a young age, as she was always eager to attend her brother’s matches. Over time, however, her interest in the sport deepened beyond the stands, leading her to pursue a more active role on the field.

“I chose refereeing because it aligns with my personal values: fairness and justice,” she told Neos Kosmos. “In many ways, refereeing is similar to law, as I am responsible for maintaining control and ensuring that things are fair and right during a match.”

At the age of 16, Katsalas began attending refereeing courses while still at school, a commitment she continued alongside her law studies. Her dedication was recognised in 2023, when she was honoured with the Rising Star Award by Football Victoria.

Through the guidance of mentors in Australia, she was given opportunities to referee at a high level in Melbourne’s National Premier Leagues (NPL) and was selected three times to officiate at national tournaments — an achievement highly regarded among referees in Australia.

She currently lives in Chios, the Greek island her family comes from, where she continues to develop her refereeing career, demonstrating that diaspora stories do not necessarily end abroad, but often come full circle.

Finding her place in Chios

Her decision to spend six months of the year refereeing in Chios and the other six months in Australia did not initially stem from refereeing ambitions. During the pandemic, when international travel was largely prohibited, she could not bear the idea of not visiting Chios that year.

“I applied for special permission and was allowed to travel, alone on the plane, from Australia to Greece,” she said. “I ended up staying in Chios for two years due to border closures. Since then, I’ve been dividing my time between Greece and Australia, spending six months in each, simply because of my love for Chios.”

At first, she was hesitant to get involved in refereeing in Chios, as it is a small community and she feared criticism. That changed in 2024, when she met a local referee who encouraged her to join him at matches as an assistant, giving her the confidence to begin officiating there.

Challenges in refereeing in Chios

Although the overall level of play in Chios is lower compared to Australia, the pressure during matches is intense.

“The intensity and pressure during matches are extremely high,” Katsalas said. “Even now, before stepping onto the pitch, I still feel nervous.”

She has also faced professional challenges as a woman.

“When I first stepped into the football games, I felt closely criticised and not immediately trusted. Trust is essential in refereeing — from players, coaches and everyone involved — because without it, a match cannot be properly managed. Earning that trust was my greatest challenge. At the same time, officiating in a small community brought added pressure, as any mistake felt highly visible.”

Over time, Katsalas worked hard to earn the trust of players, coaches and local teams. Through fairness and professionalism, she gradually gained respect. Today, even after high-pressure matches, teams often request her to referee, and she receives positive feedback from both winning and losing sides.

Differences between Australia and Chios

“The biggest difference between football in Greece and Australia is how strict the rules are,” she explained. “In Australia, leagues, systems and players follow the rules closely and everything is more regulated. In Greece, the community is smaller and things are more relaxed, even though there is great pressure during the games.”

“However, no matter where you are in the world, football is still football, and the passion for the game will always be there. Whether here or in Australia, people react based on their emotions — and most of the time those reactions can be quite strong, especially towards referees.”

The biggest challenge during games

Katsalas explained that her biggest challenge during a match is not awarding fouls, but managing people.

“You need to stay calm and keep everyone focused so the game can flow. It’s about using your personality and authority to maintain control and create an environment where players can play and feel safe, even when emotions are very intense.”

Significant moments and highlights

Her dedication has continued to be recognised. In addition to her Rising Star Award, Katsalas officiated a historic derby match in Chios with an all-women refereeing team.

“It felt like a movement for women,” she said. “We were doing something as women in a sport dominated entirely by men. I don’t even know how to put it — it was like our little revolution in this space. We made a difference.”

Personal motivation and ambition

A significant influence in Katsalas’ refereeing journey has been Andrew Meimarakis, a national-level referee and FIFA official in Australia.

“Without him, I wouldn’t be the referee I am today,” she told Neos Kosmos. “From training sessions and referee school to exams, questions and constant support, the amount of time he has dedicated to us as referees is incredible. I am deeply grateful.”

Beyond football, Katsalas enjoys the culture, traditions and natural beauty of Chios. She is already refereeing at B’ Ethniki (Greek Second Division) level, while continuing her work in Australia’s NPL, and she aspires to officiate at FIFA-level matches in the future.

“My goal is to reach the highest level I can in refereeing,” she said. “I am committed to working hard and continuously improving every part of my career.”