Maria Patrikis made history in 2026 when she became the first female Australian FIFA futsal referee.
Her achievement was built on the back of years of playing at the highest levels in both futsal and outdoor football. Her clear passion for futsal, however, has carried her to this groundbreaking milestone.
“I started playing futsal first at the age of eight, and was told by my coach at the time that I should look at coming to football in the winter season,” she said.
“So that’s what I did - and never looked back!”
Her playing career included 16 years in the NPLW Victoria, including the last six at Boroondara-Carey Eagles. She was known as a hard-nosed defender who added value to every team that she was a part of.
She retired at the end of 2025 having played over 200 games in the top flight of eleven-a-side football in Victoria.
However, her passion for refereeing is squarely in the futsal sphere. She does not officiate in the outdoor game.
“I love the passion and emotion around the game,” she explained.
“Futsal is a unique sport and I love how fast paced the game really is. The decision making must be accurate and quick. I love allowing the game to flow, and watching people enjoy it as much as I do.
“I also enjoy working within a referee team, collaborating to make decisions and support one another. I think this is what brings me the most joy. Everyone referees differently and has their own individual techniques, so it’s nice to gain knowledge from one another.”
She cites her father as one her inspirations to start her futsal refereeing journey several years ago.
“My Dad kind of paved the pathway, as he was a referee himself and would always attend the National Futsal Championships,” she recalled.
“I then met a wonderful man, Adrian Tamplin, who encouraged me from the first moment to pursue refereeing as a career path.
“After attending my first couple of nationals, meeting the FIFA Futsal Referee team and under the guidance of Ryan Shepheard and Adrian Tamplin, I knew that this is where I’d like to aspire to be. Their support has been everything to me.”
Away from refereeing, she works at the Alfred Hospital, and enjoys spending time with friends and family.
On the court, she is a fervent advocate for futsal.
“I enjoy the atmosphere and the tactics within the sport,” she said.
“I love that futsal is a fair game to play. Teams always get equal opportunity, and this allows me to referee within the spirit of the game itself.”
Her ascension to becoming a FIFA Futsal Referee in January not only meant she was the first Australian woman to achieve the feat, but was also the first Victorian since the 1990s. She joined Andrew Best, Nick Backo, Dion Bradley and Jonathon Moore as the Australians on the prestigious list.
“It is an absolute honour to be the first female to do this for Australia,” she expressed.
“It is still somewhat surreal, but it is a privilege to be able to wear the badge representing not only myself, my colleagues but also the country.
“It opens a huge door to potential opportunities internationally. I just want to make people around me proud and improve each time I am out there, whilst I am embarking on this journey.”
Her appointment came after being the first Australian woman to be part of the AFC Futsal Referee Academy in Kuala Lumpur. She returns there shortly to continue her growth as a referee.
“To be surrounded by world class instructors and being able to work collaboratively with referees from all over AFC is a brilliant opportunity,” she said.
“It is a great way to build knowledge and growth for the benefit of the game to create a stronger future for futsal.”
Patrikis looks into the future with a growth mindset as she continues her journey to rise to the highest honours in futsal refereeing.
“I love receiving feedback on the matches that I referee from my mentors and coaches, so I can improve each time I step out onto the futsal pitch,” she said.
“I think you can never stop learning as a referee because each time you referee the match is different, so expecting the unexpected is a good way to look at it, and to be prepared for anything.
“I’m happy to experience and take opportunities as they come and do my best as always.”
