'Really excited': Rebecca Welch the first female referee appointed to LV= County Championship . Denise Bueno is making history in the world of football as the first female referee in Brazil. Welch was one of 12 referees at the Women's Euro 2022, with Massey-Ellis and Rashid among the assistants. That just shows how people don't really take that much notice of it, and that's a massive positive for me.". One of them is Stephanie Frappart. Welch says she wants her officiating to go unnoticed in the EFL and has been fortunate not to have received abuse, including sexism, throughout her career. "I think it's hugely significant," she told BBC Sport. "My dad is probably my biggest fan, so he's over the moon. 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.". My work ranges from travelling to take photos for grassroots football to professional games, sometimes even travelling internationally. She. . The first female referee in the Premier League was Sian Massey-Ellis, who made her debut in 2010. To become a FIFA referee, applicants must . 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. Meet Rebecca Welch, the English Football League's first female referee 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. The highest-ranking female referee in English football will take . Petra Tabarelli, who claims to be the worlds leading expert on the evolution of the Laws of the Game and the history of women referees in mens football has thoroughly researched the subject and created a comprehensive database of female referees which she updates regularly. Liverpool's Klopp risks ban over feud with match referee The Frenchwoman is the first female referee to officiate a Ligue 1 game. Several competitions include UEFA Champions League, Premier League, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 have already had a female referee. However, despite never envisaging becoming a referee, she said she is "extremely proud and my familys extremely proud as well" to be making history. So this is an absolutely a fantastic moment.". He covers all sports, and events, he has been working with sports for 5 years, he loves to watch sports. Klopp then accused Tierney of saying something that was "not OK" and . The Premier League could still be a decade away from assigning its first female referee, according to Referees' Association chairman Paul Field. Massey-Ellis has a strong passion for football and has worked hard to get to the top of her chosen field. Elena Tambini is a revolutionary in the world of football, becoming the first-ever female referee in the history of the Italian Football Federation. 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. "Initially I wasnt really aware of being appointed as the first female referee," Welch said on Tuesday. "We know who we are as a fairly big club and that we are a great team. My mum doesn't know a lot about football. Welch believes it is only the beginning: "If it's not me, I've got no doubt, in the next 10 to 15 years, we will see a female referee in the Premier League, [but first] we'll get Monday out of the way. "We've got to try and cut away some of the non-conscious bias that is still out there. 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. There's a place for everybody. 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. Four fouls in 90 (well, 93 plus first-half stoppages) minutes doesn't sound like many but the upper limit for the average Premier League regular is lower than two a game. Frappart to become first female referee in UEFA Champions League 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. Female referees can promote women's right in Qatar- Frappart, Wendy Toms was the first female assistant referee in the Premier League in 1997, but only two women have followed since, with. (modern). Smith's visit was on 2023 FA Women's National League Finals Day as Leeds United Women, Stourbridge Women, Newcastle United Development and Portsmouth FC Development battled it out for the WNL Plate and Reserve Plate finals. Claudia Romani is an Italian football referee who has recently made a name for herself in the world of professional football. Massey-Ellis was appointed to the FIFA list of women assistant referees in 2009 and turned professional in 2010. She began her journey in the sport in 2009 as an assistant referee in the Serie C, quickly becoming one of the most respected referees in the Italian game. 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. With Welch taking charge of Harrogate v Port Vale on Easter Monday, Molly McElwee writes on why this appointment matters for the game. Sign up for our free newsletter "The Groundhopper", 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. "I'm still trying to let it sink in," Welch told Sky Sports News. 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. in December 2020, making her the first woman to referee a championship match in professional mens sports in North America, almost forty years after Betty Ellis first ran the line in the NASL. Ten years ago, a sexism row erupted over Sian Massey-Ellis officiating as an assistant referee in the Premier League, the dinosaur view that women cannot grasp the offside rule seeping into punditry. Marking firsts like this for women in football matters, especially in a space where they have not always been fully welcome. 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. Women's Champions League: Arsenal recover to earn draw in first leg CNN . "Millie Rogers is our favourite player from Stourbridge Women's. Akhona Makalima is the first certified female soccer referee in South Africa, where she officiates for FIFA, the Premier Soccer League, the Sasol Women's League and the South African Football . Last updated on 1 December 20221 December 2022.From the section Football. "Internationally, in the women's game, we're working really hard towards major competitions - the European Championships next year and World Cup in 2023. 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. Katalin began her refereeing career in 1990 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a FIFA-accredited referee in 1998. However, at the time, they could not be appointed to games because there were no women on the 1991 FIFA List of Referees. 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 . Fearn became the first female to referee an FA Cup game in the main draw in 2013. [18] Massey returned to the line on 5 February for a League 2 match between Chesterfield and Aldershot Town, and was then appointed to her third Premier League fixture on 12 February between Blackpool and Aston Villa, as an assistant to Howard Webb. "When I first started to go to clubs, people used to look twice because they just weren't used to seeing a female being a referee. I was so shocked to see four female refs that I took a photo of my TV. Hopefully, in a few years time, people will know who the Leeds players are. Trailblazer Rebecca Welch targeting Premier League referee role and Earlier this year, Rebecca Welch became the first appointed female referee to take charge of an English Football League game when she oversaw Port Vale's 2-0 win against Harrogate Town . She added: "Without any struggles, no one is going to get anywhere, it . 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. But the television cameras will be there, and viewers will see a woman take charge of an elite men's match in England. "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. (Photo: Phil Stephens Photography/FIFA Museum). After moving to the United States for college, she took up refereeing as a hobby and soon realized that she had a true passion for it. . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Referee Craig Pawson Asst. Check out the stellar selection of films on BBC iPlayer. Per the BBC, as of June 2020, there were 2,146 women refereeing across all levels of English football. 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. of female referees which she updates regularly. Bundesliga in 2007 and established her name as the first female referee in German mens professional football. The channel allegedly had previously cancelled showing a 2019 match between Augsburg and Bayern Munich because a female referee would be officiating, and edited a broadcast of the 2018 FIFA World Cup draw announcement due to co-host Maria Komandnaya. Of the 211 FIFA-affiliated associations (countries), 156 have at least one female international match official. Aspinall joins Sian Massey-Ellis in the league . Katalin Kulcsar is a Hungarian football referee and a role model for aspiring female referees around the world. Former England star Sue Smith recently took the Premier League and England Women's Euros trophies to Solihull Moors FC to help celebrate the growth of the women's game and to recognise the importance of Premier League investment lower down the football pyramid. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Lidya Tafesse, center, of Ethiopia with assistant referees Bernadettar Asimenye Kwimbira of Malawi and Nigerias Mimisen Agatha Iyorhe made history in January. I am happy to set the record straight. "I've grown so much as a person, being around the professional football environment, and learning from things I do wrong, something I probably didn't do as much of before I was a referee. This is a significant increase from the handful of female referees that were present in the early 2000s and serves as a testament to the progress that has been made in terms of gender equality in football. female refs on the pitch was nothing short of astonishing. ", Sue Smith (football presenter & former Lioness). Premier League Referees - Appointments, News and Videos Im really excited and this is what Ive been working towards, she said. Thus women didnt reach the top levels of officiating the mens game until the 90s. Top 10 Penn State Nittany Lions football players, Notre Dame Football Jersey History (Update 2023), Top 10 Penn State Nittany Lions football players 2023, Top 12 Best Iowa Football Players Of All-Time 2023, Top 12 Texas Longhorns Football Players 2023, England National Football Team Players in 2023, Best Venezuela national football team Players, What Is A Field Goal In Basketball (Step By Step Full Guide), What Is A Carry In Basketball? Football refereeing in England - Wikipedia Referees must be physically fit and have the necessary knowledge and experience to officiate at the highest level. Four officials have been promoted to the Premier League for the 2022-23 season, with Natalie Aspinall to become the second female assistant referee. "If it's not me, I've got no doubt, in the next 10 to 15 years, we will see a female referee in the Premier League," she said. After deciding that she wanted to become a referee, Welch didn't think she would ever make it to the EFL. first ever all-womens crew in a mens match in Concacaf history. Hamilton Academical; Partick Thistle; Scottish League One . 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 Is it common? Who is Kateryna Monzul? History-making female referee set to - Goal FC Barcelona will add another stamp to their UEFA Women's Champions League finals passport. Klopp was shown a yellow card by referee Paul Tierney after the German manager ran over to the fourth official to celebrate Liverpoo'ls late winning goal. "Now we have Rebecca Welch, Natalie Aspinall, Sian Massey-Ellis, Lisa Rashid breaking through these glass ceilings and really pushing the boundaries forward," she added. Mr. Shafiqul is the Chief Sports Editor of Fast Sportsly. Today, there are five full-time women referees in the NBA -- the most in the . 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! Jurgen Klopp risks sanction for referee 'against us' rant Cludia Vasconcelos Guedes (center) with lineswomen Linda Black (left) and Zuo Xiudi (right) prior to the 3rd place playoff between Sweden and Germany, in Guangzhou, China in 1991. World leaders want treaty to work together against pandemics. Stephanie Frappart: When might a woman referee a Premier League game What is the age limit for FIFA referees? The game I watched last week is the first time that a female has been in charge of a Copa Libertadores game. Mark Clattenburg: Former Premier League referee criticized for - CNN 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. She is not strictly the first woman to officiate in the EFL on Monday as Amy Fearn refereed a Championship match for 15 minutes in 2010 as an injury replacement, but never before has a woman received an official appointment. She has spent 11 years working her way up the ranks to mark this new professional milestone - and because she is making history, this is also a new step for women to tick off. Senior figures in the game are privately tipping her to become the Premier League's first woman referee. "The best advice we can give is telling others to give the game a go. , who claims to be the worlds leading expert on the evolution of the Laws of the Game and the history of women referees in mens football has thoroughly researched the subject and created a comprehensive. All rights reserved. Looking back on her unlikely route into refereeing, Welch said the fixture is "amazing for me". Lucy Oliver is a pioneering female football referee who is helping to reshape the sport. 2023. It marked the first time that an all-female team officiated a continental mens match in Asia. 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. She was the first woman to officiate a Bundesliga game in 2017. Ten years ago, a sexism row erupted over Sian Massey-Ellis officiating as an assistant referee in the Premier League, the dinosaur view that women cannot grasp the offside rule seeping into punditry. [20] In September 2007 Massey was assistant referee at England Women's 21 international friendly defeat by Denmark Women. Claudia Umpierrez is a groundbreaking female referee in the world of football. She was also an assistant referee for the qualification stage of UEFA Women's Euro 2009. The Football Association points to an explosion in the number of women referees since the formation of the Womens Super League, with numbers up 76% between 2016 and 2020 and 2,146 officiating last year at all levels of the game. , three women became the first to control a match at a senior Confederation of African Football (CAF) mens tournament. Bundesliga in 2007 and established her name as the first female referee in German mens professional football. Melksham was born in Australia and began her career as a referee in the state of Victoria in 2001. Activist group My Stealthy Freedom publicly complained about the censorship. formId: "1e092068-e6c8-4d90-9b3f-cc61c5958770" Football News and Latest Updates | Football News | Sky Sports County Championship: Gloucestershire collapse after big Sussex run haul. Rebecca Welch is highest-ranking female referee in English football; Referee chiefs Mike Riley and Mike Jones approved her appointment for Monday's League Two fixture between Harrogate Town and Port Vale; Welch cites influence of Premier League assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis, Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. Although there are a number of women registered as assistant referees in the EFL, and one Sian Massey-Ellis who works in the Premier League and at international club level, there has been concern over the slow rate of progress for female referees in England. "In terms of enjoyment, it comes from being able to be on the pitch and watch the game up close, as well as being able to provide the game for the fans and everyone else watching. In the early 80s, women in professional sports as players, game officials, coaches and front office personnel were virtually non-existent. SportMob - Greatest Female Football Referees in the World Thus, on May 27, I turned on the TV to watch a CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores group stage game between Defensa y Justicia of Argentina, and Independiente del Valle of Ecuador. Massey-Ellis was wearing shorts, and women are required to cover their legs and hair in public by Iranian law. "My only concern was were they were going to take the girls and then only use them the fourth official? "Our favourite Lionesses are Ellen White and Jess Carter. External Link, Benitez: Man City know how to win different ways, 'Premier League Supports' to highlight help wider football receives, Premier League Supports: How we helped Peacehaven, Leicester out of bottom three after draw with Everton, Premier League weekend review: What we learned, Record breaker Haaland: Amazing stats of Man city's phenomenon, Premier League clubs' pre-season summer 2023 friendlies, Alvarez wonder strike puts Man City back on top, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Standard. Tambini has since officiated over a number of big games, including the 2019 Italian Cup Final between Juventus and Fiorentina. She is known for her excellent communication skills and quick decision-making, making her a respected figure in the football community. In the men's game, my next promotion would be the Football League. Qatar World Cup to feature three female referees with Premier League's The 32-year-old from Coventry is one of the assistant referees at . Then the women have to do the work. "Regardless of where I am, I will always end up at a sporting event with a camera. The first female referee in FIFA was Jacqui Melksham, who was approved in 2005. 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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. I've got no doubt, in the next 10 to 15 years, we will see a female referee in the Premier League," she said. 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 . A decade on, Massey-Ellis continues her work as a consistent and leading official at the top level of the game, and Welch says her move into the EFL is the legacy of that. Who are the Premier League assistant referees for 2021/22? Massey-Ellis turned professional in March 2010, joining the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOB), who provide the officials for men's Premier League matches, the highest level of professional football in England. English Football League appoints its first female referee 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 . 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. Follow live updates as Arsenal travel to Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final. ", Rebecca Welch has refereed a Women's FA Cup Final, Welch in action in the Women's Super League, Pickford's homework keeps Everton's Great Escape dreams alive, Arsenal Women's Champions League final dreams end after extra-time heartbreak, Frank Lampard risking reputational damage in Chelsea's dire season, Frank Lampard: I don't blame Mauricio Pochettino for waiting on Chelsea job, Leeds in crisis as Javi Gracia faces the sack, Newcastle receive double boost in hunt for Champions League. She quickly developed a passion for the sport and was selected to become a referee at the age of 21. The Football Association stated that The number of female referees in English football has increased by 72% since 2016.. For reference, the Copa Libertadores is the highest level of competition in South American club football. Sometimes it hasnt been easy but thats down to the fact that Im a referee and your decisions are going to be unpopular for 11 players on the pitch, but certainly Ive never experienced someone criticising me because of my gender and being a female referee, Welch said. They refereed a group-stage game in the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which is the second most senior national team competition in the continent after the Africa Cup of Nations. For a referee to move from one level . Manchester City Women; Manchester United Women; Reading Women; Tottenham Hotspur Women; West Ham United Women; Scottish Championship. "People are starting to know who the England women are. This is the highest I have refereed at, at the moment, and I'm more than happy so far. (Argentina) and Neuza Back (Brazil), were the first women to be appointed to work a senior FIFA mens tournament. Frappart took charge of refereeing a mens UEFA Champions League match in December 2020 (another first) and was the first woman in charge of a mens World Cup Qualifying match in March 2021. "[I like] the games when nobody remembers who the ref is. To become a FIFA referee, applicants must pass a fitness test and complete a refereeing course. entertainment, news presenter | 4.8K views, 28 likes, 13 loves, 80 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from GBN Grenada Broadcasting Network: GBN. The experience that Sian has is invaluable. And the first female lead referee for an international match organized by UEFA was Nicole Petignat (Switzerland) in 2003. Liverpool coach Jrgen Klopp risks getting a touchline ban over a feud with a referee who has been strongly defended by the Premier League match officials group.