Emanuela Rusta, born on December 18, 1993, in Elbasan, Albania, is a pioneer in football as a referee. Initially a basketball player, she became interested in refereeing after Enea Jorgji visited her school. In March 2019, Rusta made history as the first woman to serve as a lineswoman in the Kategoria Superiore, the top men's league in Albania.
At the end of the 2021/22 season, she officiated her first match as a referee. As the first Albanian FIFA referee, she is currently part of the UEFA first-category referees. Rusta also advocates for gender equality and fights against sexism in Albanian football, gaining attention for officiating men's matches.
Albania
