", 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. After deciding that she wanted to become a referee, Welch didn't think she would ever make it to the EFL. 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. Lidya Tafesse, center, of Ethiopia with assistant referees Bernadettar Asimenye Kwimbira of Malawi and Nigerias Mimisen Agatha Iyorhe made history in January. Since then, Welch, from Washington in Tyne and Wear, has gone beyond the challenge. Everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment. Thus, the Copa Libertadores game I watched last week was the first time in history that there were six female referees working a top-level international mens soccer game. "It seems to have been a whirlwind over the past 11 years and now we're a week away from one of the biggest games of my career. She has already taken charge of the 2017 Women's FA Cup final and mens matches in the National League, and she is now in contention for Fifa selection for the Womens World Cup in 2023. "We need more people involved, more fans and more broadcast events. AP. "We are both in the same leagues but in different areas of the country, so we knew it was going to be a tough game and had to make sure we were reliable to each other as team-mates on where we were playing on the pitch. Authors note: After publication of this article, I was contacted by Dr. Lale Orta of Turkey, who states that she was the first female referee in a top European division (a Sper Lig match on May 29, 1999, thus beating Petignat in Switzerland by one day) as well as the first female assistant referree (in 1990). Those 156 associations have a total of 2,823 referees of which 822 (29.12%) are women who are accredited as follows: Fortuna Dusseldorfs Kerem Demirbay being sent off by female referee Bibiana Steinhaus in 2015. ", Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards discuss the art of punditry and rank the best analysts, Three single Kiwi women are in search of the man of their dreams in FBoy Island NZ. Not many days go by that I dont turn on the TV to watch at least one soccer game. [12], In August 2011, Massey-Ellis was appointed to the Select Group of match officials. 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. On Monday, however, Rebecca Welch makes history as the first woman to officiate a men's English Football League match, while readily admitting: "I never really understood why anyone would want to take that route". "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. , three women became the first to control a match at a senior Confederation of African Football (CAF) mens tournament. 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. Melksham was born in Australia and began her career as a referee in the state of Victoria in 2001. The Premier League could still be a decade away from assigning its first female referee, according to Referees' Association chairman Paul Field. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Katie Patterson is making history as the first female to referee a professional football match in England. We know each other very well and we knew what we were capable of, so it was just going into the game with that mindset and not letting anything else drag us down.". Video, County Antrim pupils record special coronation hymn. Why are there so many big bees around right now? ", Maddie, Poppy, Summer & Zoie (Stourbridge Women fans). They're top of the table in Division 1 in the Midlands so they are really good. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. portalId: "19923684", She quickly developed a passion for the sport and was selected to become a referee at the age of 21. 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 . Check out the stellar selection of films on BBC iPlayer. However, Welch will be the first female referee to have been officially appointed for a game. Football has already seen three female assistant referees in the Football League - Fearn, Wendy Toms and Sian Massey-Ellis - and Welch admitted it felt strange to be thrust in the spotlight. She is the only female FIFA referee in Switzerland and is paving the way for other women in the sport. An all-female team from Ukraine took charge of an international between San Marino and Gibraltar last year. Mr. Shafiqul is the Chief Sports Editor of Fast Sportsly. "It seems to have been a whirlwind over the past 11 years and now we're a week away from one of the biggest games of my career. 03:15 - Source: CNN. "It's great to see the game has changed since I started watching it by including women's games seriously, and it's amazing to see how professional the leagues are forming. Steinhaus-Webb, who became the first woman to referee. Rebecca Welch has become the first female referee to be appointed to a game in the English Football League, it has been announced. "It's happening university has finished and I am going all out," Roble, whose family moved to London from Somalia when she was just 10 to escape the country's civil war, told the Press Association. 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. There are a few names you will hear frequently when discussing history-making women working the mens game in Europe. Frappart will continue to make history in the coming weeks as she has been selected to work as a support match official at the Euros. "I've always said, through all my promotions, I want to be appointed because I am in the top 10 match officials on that list. Welch, who earns 120 per National League match, is aware of well-publicised cases of sexism towards female officials in the past but says she has never encountered that personally. In 1999, a pool of 31 referees composed entirely of women were in charge of the third edition of the FIFA Womens World Cup. Demirbay was fined and banned for multiple games after making sexist comments. 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. She, along with. It the end it was the strike from Graham Hansen in the first leg that is the . 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. (Argentina) and Neuza Back (Brazil), were the first women to be appointed to work a senior FIFA mens tournament. "The quality coming through female officials is absolutely mind-blowing.". Yes, the Premier League does have female referees. We've had to analyse Stourbridge Women a lot and hold respect for the opponents. 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. When Rebecca Welch blows her whistle at Harrogate Towns home fixture with Port Vale next Monday, a significant milestone in English football will finally have been reached. "We've done much better, of course we have, but we still have a big gap of women coming through, and that's for lots of different reasons," she added. "We've got to make sure that women see this as an environment that is welcoming to them. 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. "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. 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. "We love women's football a lot. (modern). Subsequently, all match officials for the womens tournament at the 2000 Summer Olympics (the second time there was a womens Olympic football competition) were also female. (Photo: Michael Regan/Getty). 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. Follow live updates as Arsenal travel to Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final. But the television cameras will be there, and viewers will see a woman take charge of an elite men's match in England. Hamilton Academical; Partick Thistle; Scottish League One . By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Then the women have to do the work. But like Steinhaus-Webb, she is keen to make sure any promotion is for the right reasons. I do think its important to show that women who are in the top 1% of their category can proceed to the next level so it definitely makes others down the pyramid look up and know that they can achieve the same.. "Looking into the National League, it takes me back to when I was trying to balance an education to playing football and trying to train everyday while also having other commitments as I couldnt focus on football full-time at this level. I'm very fortunate to have been given this opportunity and I'm really excited about it. the first woman to officiate a Bundesliga game in 2017. A few years later, Canadian Sonia Denoncourt became the first woman to be designated as an official FIFA-accredited referee. 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. I've got no doubt, in the next 10 to 15 years, we will see a female referee in the Premier League," she said. They have to be good enough, but we have got girls coming through now who are possibly good enough.". | Why It Matters, UFC Fight Night: JJ Aldrich vs Ariane Lipski Live Streaming Watch Now. I truly love what I do! The sky is the limit. Welch is the first female to be appointed to a match as an EFL referee. "Millie Rogers is our favourite player from Stourbridge Women's. 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.