Fr Hilary Tagliaferro was among football personalities who were awarded for their services to football in an event organised by European football governing body Uefa in Budapest today.
Fr Hilary (above, left)was given the award for his crucial contribution to the game's development in various capacities in their respective countries
Uefa.com reports that England greats Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Trevor Brooking were among six European football personalities who have been awarded UEFA's Order of Merit for their services to the game.
The awards were presented by UEFA first vice-president Ángel María Villar Llona at a ceremony in Budapest on Monday, as Europe's national associations and football dignitaries gathered ahead of Tuesday's 40th Ordinary UEFA Congress in the Hungarian capital.
The UEFA Order of Merit is a mark of honour and distinction awarded by UEFA to individuals within the European football family who demonstrate exceptional performance and dedication for the good of the game.
Sir Bobby has been honoured with the UEFA Order of Merit in Diamond, and his award was accepted on his behalf in Budapest by English UEFA Executive Committee member David Gill. Sir Bobby enjoyed a magnificent career as a player with Manchester United, for whom he played 758 games and scored 249 goals over 17 memorable years,
Sir Trevor, who received the UEFA Order of Merit in Ruby, scored 102 goals in 649 matches for West Ham United between 1967 and 1984, and made 47 appearances for his country between 1974 and 1982. He served as director of football development for the English Football Association (FA) from 2005 to 2014.
Four other prominent European football figures were presented with the UEFA Order of Merit in Budapest – Lars-Åke Lagrell (Sweden, Diamond), Károly Palotai (Hungary, Diamond), Zorislav Srebrić (Croatia, Diamond) and Father Hilary Tagliaferro (Malta, Ruby). All of the quartet have made crucial contributions to the game's development in various capacities in their respective countries.
Lagrell served for 21 years as president of the Swedish Football Association (SvFF), while Palotai refereed four UEFA club competition finals from 1975 to 1981, as well as at three FIFA World Cups. Srebrić was an outstanding general secretary and technical director of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) over two decades, and Father Hilary was a key coaching figure, youth educator and sports journalist in his native Malta.