The Matchday 11 YoHealth Premier League meeting between Birkirkara and Hamrun Spartans will be overseen by Slobodan Petrovic. The fixture is important for both clubs, with Hamrun defending their status as champions and Birkirkara pushing to secure a place in the top six ahead of the league split. This is Petkovic’s second major assignment in the space of a week after he took charge of Valletta against Hibernians last weekend.
Petrovic is originally from Serbia and has been refereeing in Malta for the past ten years. He became a Premier League referee in the 2019-2020 season and, over time, has earned the respect of clubs, players, and officials. He is now regarded as one of the most respected referees within the Maltese elite refereeing pool.
So far in the 2025-2026 opening round, Petrovic has handled seven Premier League matches and shown a total of 47 yellow cards and one red card, an average of 6.7 cautions per match. His highest number of cautions in a single game came on 25 October in Valletta’s 1-0 win over Hibernians, where he issued eleven yellow cards. His lowest tally was recorded on 20 September in Marsaxlokk against Floriana, where only one yellow card was shown.
Across these matches, he has produced one red card for endangering the safety of an opponent. This first came on 24 August in Zabbar St. Patrick against Hibernians, which finished 2-2. The decision came late in the game and was a correct one.
With both teams entering this match with clear objectives, the game is expected to be tense and competitive. Hamrun will look to assert their title credentials, while Birkirkara aim to take a significant step towards the top six. Petkovic’s firm control and clear disciplinary line are likely to play a part in shaping the rhythm of the contest as two ambitious sides meet in a pivotal league fixture.
