Christinos Stavridis Receives the 2025 FIAS Porcelain Whistle Award

The official award ceremony for the 2025 FIAS Porcelain Whistle – presented annually to the best referee of the year – took place on November 8 during the World SAMBO Championships 2025 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. By decision of the FIAS Technical Commission, this year’s award went to referee-secretary Christinos Stavridis from the Republic of Cyprus.

FIAS Sports Director Sergey Tabakov, who personally handed the award to Stavridis, praised his outstanding professionalism and dedication to the sport:

“The chief secretary’s work is often invisible. Spectators can’t see this job and referees remember about the secretary only when questions arise concerning the refereeing system. In reality, everything that happens before, during, and after the competition is under the close supervision of the chief secretary. Over the years, Christinos Stavridis has consistently demonstrated his professionalism, served as an example for the refereeing community, and shared his experience with newcomers.”

Tabakov also noted that Stavridis is known for his sense of responsibility, focus on results, continuous professional growth, strong technical expertise, flawless knowledge of SAMBO rules, and undisputed authority among his peers.

The Porcelain Whistle Award has been presented annually since 2021. Each trophy is crafted from an exclusive design, produced under the direct supervision of the International SAMBO Federation. The award not only recognizes exceptional referees but also serves as an additional motivation for continued professional excellence within the international SAMBO officiating community.