She was also an assistant referee for the qualification stage of UEFA Women's Euro 2009. entertainment, news presenter | 4.8K views, 28 likes, 13 loves, 80 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from GBN Grenada Broadcasting Network: GBN. The Frenchwoman is the first female referee to officiate a Ligue 1 game. When we were in school, we had to join the boys' team just to play football. Becoming the first female to referee in the Premier League is now one of Welch's next targets, but she is keen to inspire more women to pick up the whistle along the way. Stephanie Frappart made history on Wednesday by becoming the first female referee to take charge of a men's Champions League game, while female referees have been employed in the Bundesliga and . The Premier League could still be a decade away from assigning its first female referee, according to Referees' Association chairman Paul Field. [1] [2] The first season was played in March 2023 and saw Mumbai Indians win the first title. Of the 211 FIFA-affiliated associations (countries), 156 have at least one female international match official. I've got no doubt, in the next 10 to 15 years, we will see a female referee in the Premier League," she said. This includes a commitment to increase the number of female referees for international and club matches. 29 April 2023 Counties 16. This is also evidenced on the internet, where my incognito searches for female soccer referees in English and Spanish returned more than half of the first page results with titles that include the words most beautiful/sexy/hottest., In an interview for FIFA.com on International Womens Day, Kari Seitz, who is currently FIFAs Head of Refereeing, Women, summed up her outlook for the future: It starts with the people at the top taking women referee development seriously. But in blowing the whistle to mark kick-off between League Two's Harrogate Town and Port Vale, she will be setting a new and important precedent in English football, becoming the first woman appointed as a referee in the EFL. portalId: "19923684", Patterson has been a referee for 14 years and has officiated in the FA Womens Super League, the FA Womens Championship, the FA Womens National League and the UEFA Womens Champions League. Her first appointment as an assistant referee was on 29 August 2009, a 22 draw between Hereford United and Port Vale. Katalin Kulcsar is a Hungarian football referee and a role model for aspiring female referees around the world. The game I watched last week is the first time that a female has been in charge of a Copa Libertadores game. Her tenacity and drive have seen her become the first female referee to officiate at a mens professional match in the UK and the first woman to referee a mens professional cup final in England. Rebecca Welch, who became a referee in 2010, recently made history as the first female appointed to take charge of an EFL match in April 2021. "We've got to try and cut away some of the non-conscious bias that is still out there. This is the highest I have refereed at, at the moment, and I'm more than happy so far. Portsmouth Reserves is one of my favourite teams to watch and I try to come down as much as possible to support them, "I even do my best by wearing their merch. On May 19, 2021, the first ever all-womens crew in a mens match in Concacaf history took the field at the 2021 Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship in the Dominican Republic. That's not a bad thing, it's just, especially in the North East of England, there were very few. Fernanda Colombo Uliana is quickly becoming a household name in football as the first female referee in Brazils top-flight football league, the Campeonato Brasileiro Srie A. Fernanda has overcome many obstacles to reach this level and is now at the forefront of the movement for gender equality in football. (Photo at top: Stphanie Frappart and her assistants Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle ONeill before the UEFA Super Cup game in 2019. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. They're top of the table in Division 1 in the Midlands so they are really good. the first woman to officiate a Bundesliga game in 2017. (modern). But I've gone through the men's pathway and I've never experienced anything like that (abuse) because I'm a female referee. In January 2020, she won the award for the UPL's best . But it's really important to have a support network not connected to football too.". By that stretch . BRE 2 - 1 NFO. Rebecca Welch, who is currently the highest-ranking female referee in English football, will oversee Harrogate Town's game against Port Vale on Monday 5 April. Last updated on 1 December 20221 December 2022.From the section Football. Sian Massey-Ellis, currently the highest ranked female official in the UK, started running the line in the Football League in 2009 and has been an assistant referee for Premier League games since 2010. 2023 BBC. The 35-year-old is blazing a trail for other women in the sport and is determined to make a name for herself in the competitive and male-dominated world of football. She only began training after one of those referees, who happened to be her friend, told her: If you think you can do any better, why dont you have a go.". English referee Sian Massey-Ellis believes it is only a matter of time before there is a female referee in the Premier League. It was only in September 2020 that a female officiated as an assistant referee for the first time in a Copa Libertadores game; this happened twice on the same day in two different games because the scheduled (male) referees tested positive for Covid and had to be replaced at the last minute. ", April Hill, Macey Nikiah-Walters & Esme Parsons (Portsmouth Women Development players). In the third-place playoff game on November 29, 1991, Guedes, and her assistants, Chinas Zuo Xiudi and New Zealands Linda Black, also became the first all-female team to officiate in a FIFA tournament. The officiating crew was led by Center Referee Tori Penso, while Karen Diaz of Mexico and Stephanie-Dale Yee Sing of Jamaica served as Assistant Referees. Jawahir Roble is the first female Muslim referee, she plans to continue to smash stereotypes by officiating in the Premier League. "Getting to officiate finals is one of the coolest perks about our jobs, having the opportunity to be involved with women's football and helping to grow the game. Id never seen myself as a trailblazer until the last year, where Ive started to accept it because I think its important that people who are fortunate enough to be in my position or similar can show people that this can be done, she said. That just shows how people don't really take that much notice of it, and that's a massive positive for me.". Wendy Toms was the first female assistant referee in the Premier League in 1997, but only two women have followed since, with Natalie Aspinall joining Sian Massey-Ellis on the top flight's list of assistant referees for this season. Cream Magazine by Themebeez. Massey-Ellis was withdrawn by the PGMOB from her next appointment, a League 2 game between Crewe Alexandra and Bradford City on 25 January, as they believed the added attention Massey might receive could detract from the match itself. "Initially I wasnt really aware of being appointed as the first female referee," Welch said on Tuesday. Female football referee are becoming increasingly common in the sport, and they are proving to be just as capable as their male counterparts. Marking firsts like this for women in football matters, especially in a space where they have not always been fully welcome. Welch has also expressed her desire to see a female referee in the Premier League, something which she believes could happen in the near future. For a referee to move from one level . The Premier League supports the FA Women's National League (WNL), the third and fourth tiers of women's football, with 3m of investment and a new three-year strategy "Empowering For Success", which was launched this season. Saturday 29 April 2023. Klopp then accused Tierney of saying something that was "not OK" and . In addition, the two video match officials were also women, making the entire officiating crew 100% female. hbspt.forms.create({ "My journey through promotion has been a whirlwind over the past 10 years.". "I do think its important to show that women who are in the top one per cent of their category can proceed to the next level so it definitely makes others down the period look up and know that they can achieve the same," she added. You can tell by all the fans that have arrived here today from all over the country that it is in a really good place, particularly for a fourth-tier game. So this is an absolutely a fantastic moment.". The competitiveness is just as strong, though, compared to other leagues because everyone wants to win. "It would have been nice to have had a girls' team. Compared to men's football, I find women's football at this level much calmer and it is easy to follow. of female referees which she updates regularly. The tournament, FIFA stated in its announcement, would feature the first female referees in the 92-year history of the men's World Cup, with six women among the 129 officials. My work ranges from travelling to take photos for grassroots football to professional games, sometimes even travelling internationally. . Melksham was born in Australia and began her career as a referee in the state of Victoria in 2001. Ingrid Jonsson (Sweden) and five other female assistant referees were invited to China for the inaugural FIFA Womens World Cup. Sian Massey-Ellis, currently the highest ranked female official in the UK, started running the line in the Football League in 2009 and has been an assistant referee for Premier League games since 2010. "We'll get Monday out of the way. We also enjoy being role models to young people and to ourselves when we are together. She is the only female FIFA referee in Switzerland and is paving the way for other women in the sport. [12], In August 2011, Massey-Ellis was appointed to the Select Group of match officials. Im really excited and this is what Ive been working towards, she said. External Link, Be wary of future Brighton rotation in FPL, FPL player price changes - rises, falls and top transfers for Gameweek 35, Gameweek 34 FPL stats: Haaland rewards as Triple Captain, Double Gameweek 34 FPL bonus points: Pickford hauls, Chelsea to play Borussia Dortmund in Chicago They make us love watching football the most, but now we all play with our mates for fun. ", Sue Smith (football presenter & former Lioness). In terms of my addition to being part of the women's game, this is a privilege at the moment, you know? Check out the stellar selection of films on BBC iPlayer. Copyrights Fast Sportsly. Around the same time, women were receiving their first appointments at the top levels of the mens game. The officiating crew was led by Center Referee Tori Penso, while Karen Diaz of Mexico and Stephanie-Dale Yee Sing of Jamaica served as Assistant Referees. Klopp: We will do business | Chelsea transfer model impossible for manager, Carra: Everton display will worry rivals | 'Big Sam makes sense for Leeds', Transfer Centre - Neville: Spurs can't afford to lose Kane this summer, Brecel holds off Selby fightback to win World Snooker final, Arteta: This is not over | Lampard: Arsenal still in the title race, Ref Watch: 'Klopp case closed but Jota got lucky! A referee on Teesside by the age of 14, Harrington officiated his first Premier League game in December 2021. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could face disciplinary action after accusing the referee in Sunday's dramatic 4-3 win over Tottenham of bearing a grudge against his team. Welch, who was recently promoted to UEFA's elite category of officials, has refereed in the National League for the past three seasons and has taken charge of the Women's FA Cup final at Wembley. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She is the first female referee to be appointed to the Italian Serie A and is quickly becoming a fan favorite. Whether thats playing to officiating, start from the bottom at grass roots and work your way up to gain your skills. Not many days go by that I dont turn on the TV to watch at least one soccer game. "The best advice we can give is telling others to give the game a go. became the first woman to officiate the Club World Cup. External Link, Isak and Wilson can be worth the double-up in FPL, Benitez: Man City have the focus to win title, Haaland equals record for most Premier League goals in a season, Haaland hits 50th goal of the season The hostile world of refereeing was never an ambition for the 37-year-old, but Welch has out-performed male counterparts while rising through the ranks of the grass-roots and women's game. She was part of an all-female on-field team; a male referee served as the fourth official. 'I'm going to ref at the World Cup' says UK's first Muslim referee. But Frampton believes too many female officials are lost to the top of the game because of problems at grassroots level. "We love women's football a lot. Sian Louise Massey-Ellis MBE (ne Massey; born 5 October 1985)[2][3] is an English football match official who officiates generally in the role of assistant referee in the Premier League and the Football League. Germanys Bundesliga and Frances Ligue 1 have employed women referees, and Stphanie Frappart refereed a mens Champions League match last December. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reportedly cut away from the game more than 100 times in order to avoid showing her legs, showing outdoor footage of London instead. a German top-flight men's game in September 2017. now oversees the development of female officials for the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in England. [10], On 11 February 2010, Massey-Ellis refereed the season's FA Women's Premier League Cup final between Leeds Carnegie and Everton at Rochdale's Spotland Stadium. Here are the stories of those who participated on the day. Steinhaus-Webb believes the English game has several prospects with the potential to step up to a bigger stage. "A good game on Monday is, by 10 to five (o'clock), they're talking about the game and not about the ref," she laughs. Video, 00:02:10'Anyone can referee' says UK's first Muslim female ref, Five times referees have made the headlines, Watch Newsround - signed and subtitled. All rights reserved. Its so weird seeing the Euros trophy in real life because we have only seen it on the telly. She says that Frappart's display and that of other female officials in Qatar - another two female referees and three assistant referees are also available for selection - is crucial for paving the way for a new generation. Welch described her appointment for Monday's match as a "a shock", but Carol Shanahan, chair of Port Vale FC, told the Daily Telegraph it was overdue, and she was "absolutely delighted" that her club would be playing a part in helping make history for women in the game. After spending several years officiating matches in the lower leagues, Fernanda was finally given the opportunity to become a top-flight referee in 2020. According to Football Makes History, The first female referee in a European first division in mens football was Nicole Petignat of Switzerland (1999) and the first female assistant referee was Gertrude Gebhard of Germany (1995). The first female assistant referee at the international level was Nelly Viennot (France) who worked the UEFA European Championship Qualifiers in 1996. Other women referees Serie A is not the first league to appoint a female official to referee a match. One of them is Stephanie Frappart. What Is A Double Double In Basketball? The 37-year-old from County Durham has become the first woman selected to referee a mens match in the English Football League. The English Football League (EFL) has appointed it's very first female referee. Jonsson, who started refereeing in 1983, recalls that it was the first competitive international tournament in which women officiated. What is the age limit for FIFA referees? Lucy has been officiating football matches since she was 15 and has since become one of the most respected referees in the game. Welch said it was only recently that she had come to consider her position as a pioneer. [24], In June 2017, Massey-Ellis was appointed to be an assistant referee for the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 in the Netherlands. Does Premier League have female referees? The first female referee in the Premier League was Sian Massey-Ellis, who made her debut in 2010. [8], In May 2009, Massey-Ellis was appointed fourth official for the year's FA Women's Cup final at Derby County's Pride Park Stadium, a game which saw two injury-time goals and Arsenal defeat Sunderland 21. "We know who we are as a fairly big club and that we are a great team. Francia Gonzalez worked as the Fourth Referee and Dianne Ferreira-James of Guyana as Assessor. How to get into football - the most popular sport in the world, with clubs and facilities throughout the UK. Referee Peter Bankes Asst. Required fields are marked *. She has also been appointed to matches in the Football League Trophy, UEFA Women's Champions League,[4] FIFA Women's World Cup qualification rounds, the FIFA Women's World Cup and the UEFA Europa League. In spite of ample evidence documenting Edith Klingers achievements, FIFA recognized Drahan Arda of Turkey as the worlds first female football referee in 2018, perhaps because she was still alive to pursue the designation. Stephanie Frappart became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup game as she oversaw Germany's 4-2 win over Costa Rica on Thursday. To have her around a dressing room, as one of my friends, is really important. Petra Tabarelli found the first occurrence of three females officiating in a top-level mens soccer match anywhere in the world at a Brazilian Serie A game in June 2003. became the first female official to work the final of an MLS competition when she assisted in the MLS is Back Tournament Final matchup between the Portland Timbers and Orlando City SC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The 27-year-old from Birmingham has been refereeing since she was 13 and is now the first woman to take charge of a professional game in the English Football League. Papers: Big Sam or Bowyer to replace Gracia at Leeds? [28], She is married to Robert Ellis, who is also a football referee. The Football Association points to an explosion in the number of women referees since the formation of the Women's Super League, with numbers up 76% between 2016 and 2020 and 2,146 officiating . In the last 10 years Ive put a lot of hard work and commitment in and Ive reaped the rewards from that by getting promoted. Full-time: Barcelona 1-1 (2-1 agg) Chelsea. It is really beautiful. Senior figures in the game are privately tipping her to become the Premier League's first woman referee. Looking back on her unlikely route into refereeing, Welch said the fixture is "amazing for me". An all-female team from Ukraine took charge of an international between San Marino and Gibraltar last year. Rebecca Welch pictured during the 2020 Womens FA Cup final. Jonsson ended up working as a lineswoman in the Final. I am happy to set the record straight. On the international level, Steinhaus was in charge of the UEFA Womens Champions League final in 2017 as well as the Womens World Cup final in 2011 and the gold medal match for the Womens Olympics in 2012 at Wembley Stadium. Follow live updates as Arsenal travel to Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final. To become a FIFA referee, applicants must pass a fitness test and complete a refereeing course. We are incredibly happy we have a team now where we can play together at this standard and at this level and we love it! Thankfully, theres decent coverage of European football as well, so I have been able to watch plenty of Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, and other European league matches along with the occasional MLS games, World Cup qualifiers, etc. Do not miss your chance to land the 250,000 in Friday's Super 6 round. Manchester City Women; Manchester United Women; Reading Women; Tottenham Hotspur Women; West Ham United Women; Scottish Championship. "Back in my time, all you could do was come down to your local pitch and play with your mates on a Saturday, go to the pub and that was it. In 2010, Amy Fearn became the first woman to referee an EFL game as a second-half replacement for injured referee Tony Bates in Coventry's game against Nottingham Forest in the Championship. But like Steinhaus-Webb, she is keen to make sure any promotion is for the right reasons. greatest female football referees in the world i. s Wendy Toms who is the first female ever who officiated at the Premier League and football league. "There aren't really too many lows with my position as a referee, apart from some boos here and there but that's inevitable really. There is no stopping us now and I cant wait to see what many more great accomplishments are ahead for women referees and women referee coaches, instructors, observers and administrators., Many of the worlds top soccer organizations have implemented changes to better support women in football, so I expect to see more women officiating at the top levels of the mens game. She says the adage, "If you can see it, you can be it" applies to her story, and she hopes her appointment will spur others on as Massey-Ellis did for her. Claudia Romani is an Italian football referee who has recently made a name for herself in the world of professional football. Arda refereed for thirty years in Turkey and Germany. A lack of role models is thought to be part of the problem. The Premier League supports the FA Women's National League (WNL), the third and fourth tiers of women's football, with 3m of investment and a new three-year strategy "Empowering For Success", which was launched this season. It helped the game become stable after years of stagnancy. They have to be good enough, but we have got girls coming through now who are possibly good enough.". Welsh will be the first female referee to have been officially appointed to oversee an EFL game, 'Anyone can referee' says UK's first Muslim female ref. I've got a big support network, and nobody understands you better than another referee. "I've seen both sides of the game from when I first started playing for a local boys team, to having to pay to play at Tranmere Rovers, where there were a lot of volunteers who helped run the club, to then playing professionally at Leeds United and Doncaster Belles, to also playing for England, where we had everything from personal sports scientists to doctors and cooks at St George's Park. It is owned and operated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Rebecca Welch has made history by becoming the first woman appointed to referee a game in the English Football League. Frappart was the first woman to take charge of a major European final when she officiated the UEFA Super Cup match between Liverpool and Chelsea in August 2019. Some of us were lucky and had a mixed team to play with. The 37-year-old, who has refereed men's matches in the National League and top women's games like the FA Cup final back in 2017, was chosen following an ongoing review of her performances during the current season. Rebecca Welch made history on Monday as she became the first appointed female referee to take charge of an English Football League (EFL) game. Before Lucy, there were no female referees in professional football and she is determined to make sure that she isnt the last. My mum doesn't know a lot about football. They need to earn the positions, pass the fitness tests and be technically capable. Blowing the whistle to start Harrogate Towns game against Port Vale could be just the first of many milestones. However, Welch will be the first female referee to have been officially appointed for a game. However, despite never envisaging becoming a referee, she said she is "extremely proud and my familys extremely proud as well" to be making history. Jonsson ended up working as a lineswoman in the Final. That didn't even register on my radar. The experience that Sian has is invaluable. Activist group My Stealthy Freedom publicly complained about the censorship. "I think it's hugely significant," she told BBC Sport. Drahan Arda officiating at game at Mithatpaa Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey in 1968. She was the first woman to referee a mens professional football match in Europe and is currently the only female referee in the top division of any European country. FC Barcelona will add another stamp to their UEFA Women's Champions League finals passport. Meanwhile, Yamashita became the first women to referee matches in the J-League and Asian Champions League, on top of officiating at the 2019 Women's World Cup and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The answer is soon, according to Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb, who broke the same ground in the Bundesliga and is now in charge of England's elite female officiating talent. VideoWatch Newsround - signed and subtitled, Wildflowers fit for a king: Special seeds for schools to mark coronation, County Antrim pupils record special coronation hymn. . The 32-year-old from Coventry is one of the assistant referees at . Several competitions include UEFA Champions League, Premier League, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 have already had a female referee. "I don't want positive discrimination," she said. Female referees continue to deal with sexist comments and actions on the field, by announcers, and by the public. So it was a groundbreaking achievement when, in May 1981, Betty Ellis became the first female to officiate a professional soccer game in the U.S. She was a lineswoman at a North American Soccer League (NASL) match between the Portland Timbers and Calgary Boomers at Civic Stadium (now Providence Park). As the team captains greeted each other and the referees for the coin toss, I noticed something out of the ordinary: All of the referees were women! And the first female lead referee for an international match organized by UEFA was Nicole Petignat (Switzerland) in 2003. recently made history as the first female appointed to take charge of an, , as of June 2020, there were 2,146 women refereeing across all levels of English football. "We also play football ourselves, which is why we are interested and involved. Born in 1983, Fernanda began her football journey at the age of 15 when she joined a local female football team in her hometown of Porto Alegre. Leaving her home country, and all her friends, without a chance to say goodbye was understandably tough . The highest-ranking female referee in English football will take . It the end it was the strike from Graham Hansen in the first leg that is the . Here Are Some Places to Start. Diogo Jota's stoppage-time strike sealed victory at Anfield, just 99 seconds after Spurs thought Richarlison's first Premier League goal for the club had rescued a . Ref 2 Mark Scholes 4th Official Graham Scott. Reporter Andy Burton was suspended. "Promoting women's football will help continue its growth, especially with how it's growing after the Euros. Bundesliga in 2007 and established her name as the first female referee in German mens professional football. ", David Jenkins (Portsmouth Women Development super fan), "The girls played well and gave it their best, which is all that matters at the end of the day. I've loved sports all my life - I grew up playing cricket and football for 20 years so getting a job in this industry is ideal for me and the best thing that could happen. Mr. Shafiqul is the Chief Sports Editor of Fast Sportsly. A few years later, Canadian Sonia Denoncourt became the first woman to be designated as an official FIFA-accredited referee. During a game between Cardiff City and Middlesbrough in May 2011, Massey was knocked over by Cardiff player Kevin McNaughton, although the incident was said, officially by the FA, to be an accident. Video, County Antrim pupils record special coronation hymn. And the first female lead referee for an international match organized by UEFA was Nicole Petignat (Switzerland) in 2003. As the world continues to tackle issues of gender equality in all aspects of life, ensuring that women have the same opportunities as men to officiate soccer at all levels is a necessary focus of the stakeholders in the game. Per the BBC, as of June 2020, there were 2,146 women refereeing across all levels of English football. "I've seen both sides of the game from when I first started playing for a local boys team, to having to pay to play . "As a male in the women's game, there is so much opportunity to join a match and referee for them, especially with girls who were part of today's final, who worked their absolute socks off. Barcelona eliminated Chelsea FC on aggregate, 2-1, after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw during the . Steinhaus-Webb, who became the first woman to referee a German top-flight men's game in September 2017, now oversees the development of female officials for the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in England. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent.

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