But like Steinhaus-Webb, she is keen to make sure any promotion is for the right reasons. Denise Bueno is making history in the world of football as the first female referee in Brazil. Meet the people of the FA Women's National League - Premier League The Frenchwoman is the first female referee to officiate a Ligue 1 game. "I'm still trying to let it sink in," Welch told Sky Sports News. Manchester City Women; Manchester United Women; Reading Women; Tottenham Hotspur Women; West Ham United Women; Scottish Championship. As CONMEBOL said about the historic appointment of an all-female officiating crew for the Copa Libertadores match, It is further proof of the organizations commitment to the development and professionalization of more women on and off the field, promoting gender equality and providing more decision-making spaces., As Football Makes History states, It is a step towards equality, but there is still a long way to go before female referees no longer make history in mens football. 2023 BBC. 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. ', Sprint beef, Ferrari respite & reignited title fight | What we learnt in Baku, PL hits and misses: Vintage Vardy making timely Leicester comeback, Welch, centre, warms up with Sian Massey-Ellis, right, ahead of the last Women's FA Cup final at Wembley, Premier League assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis discusses equality, online hate, VAR, the Sergio Aguero incident and being a trailblazer for girls who want to make it in sport, Trailblazer Massey-Ellis: VAR, mistakes & social media. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In 2010, referee Amy Fearn became the first woman to take charge of an EFL game after Tony Bates sustained an injury during Coventry's match against Nottingham Forest. Bundesliga in 2007 and established her name as the first female referee in German mens professional football. She said that Frappart's selection as a referee, rather than on the sidelines, is key. "We love women's football a lot. "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. Gloucestershire collapse after big Sussex run haul They tend to better understand the game and are often better at dealing with players and coaches. Massey-Ellis was appointed to the FIFA list of women assistant referees in 2009 and turned professional in 2010. Klopp then accused Tierney of saying something that was "not OK" and . The competitiveness is just as strong, though, compared to other leagues because everyone wants to win. Referee Craig Pawson Asst. 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. Mr. Shafiqul is the Chief Sports Editor of Fast Sportsly. 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.. 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). Lucy Oliver is a pioneering female football referee who is helping to reshape the sport. "We've got to try and cut away some of the non-conscious bias that is still out there. In terms of my addition to being part of the women's game, this is a privilege at the moment, you know? 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.". Avi, Kyra, Lyra & Malayah (women's football fans). Top 10 Female Football Referee in 2023 - fastsportsly.com Not many days go by that I dont turn on the TV to watch at least one soccer game. Ref 2 Derek Eaton 4th Official Andy Madley. "They are not only performing for themselves, they are performing for a whole generation of female officials who want to strive higher," she said. She is the first female official to referee a mens professional match in her native Argentina and is the only female referee in the Primera Division, the top tier of the Argentine football pyramid. Jonsson ended up working as a lineswoman in the Final. 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. 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. Welchreflected on a "whirlwind decade" since she was playing for Durham and Nissan Ladies, and regularly shouting at the officials in charge. 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. She is football's reluctant trailblazer, an NHS administrator who took up refereeing just to prove a point to a friend during her amateur playing days. Liverpool's Klopp risks ban over feud with match referee The Women's Premier League (WPL) is a women's Twenty20 cricket franchise league in India. }); We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. CRY 4 - 3 WHU. That's not a bad thing, it's just, especially in the North East of England, there were very few. Welcome to the dangerous world of the yakuza: Watch the slick, stylish drama Tokyo Vice on BBC iPlayer now. He covers all sports, and events, he has been working with sports for 5 years, he loves to watch sports. The Premier League could still be a decade away from assigning its first female referee, according to Referees' Association chairman Paul Field. [28], She is married to Robert Ellis, who is also a football referee. Cream Magazine by Themebeez. 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. A referee on Teesside by the age of 14, Harrington officiated his first Premier League game in December 2021. However, despite never envisaging becoming a referee, she said she is "extremely proud and my familys extremely proud as well" to be making history. Football refereeing in England - Wikipedia Ref 1 Edward Smart Asst. "We need more people involved, more fans and more broadcast events. Is it common? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. "My journey through promotion has been a whirlwind over the past 10 years.". Check out the stellar selection of films on BBC iPlayer. Rebecca Welch: Referee makes history in EFL debut | CNN Drahan Arda officiating at game at Mithatpaa Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey in 1968. [7][15][16][17] The PGMOB also withdrew her for a second time, from a Conference North game between Corby Town and Eastwood Town on 29 January, with Corby stating there had been huge demand for television access when it was announced Massey was to referee the game. There has really been a huge change already. Francia Gonzalez worked as the Fourth Referee and Dianne Ferreira-James of Guyana as Assessor. 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. Rebecca Welch becomes first female referee to be appointed to EFL game 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. I've got no doubt, in the next 10 to 15 years, we will see a female referee in the Premier League," she said. Football News and Latest Updates | Football News | Sky Sports Spicemas Launch 28th April, 2023 - Facebook took the field at the 2021 Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship in the Dominican Republic. The highest-ranking female referee in English football will take charge of the League Two clash between Harrogate Town and Port Vale on Monday. VideoWatch Newsround - signed and subtitled, Wildflowers fit for a king: Special seeds for schools to mark coronation, County Antrim pupils record special coronation hymn. Before Lucy, there were no female referees in professional football and she is determined to make sure that she isnt the last. "The icing on the cake helping the women's game grow has been the Lionesses winning the Euros. In addition, the two video match officials were also women, making the entire officiating crew 100% female. Women were less common running the sidelines of mens football in England in the early 20th century. Female referees have unique skills that make them well-suited for the job. 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! 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. Ferrieri Caputi: All you need to know about Serie A's first female referee 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. "Because of this, theres so many pathways for girls who want to follow in our footsteps. "Seeing all the hard work and dedication to keep the clubs running is just amazing and how everyone volunteers to get things running for the growth of the clubs is heart-warming, especially at a final. 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. [12], In August 2011, Massey-Ellis was appointed to the Select Group of match officials. She is the first female referee to be appointed to the Italian Serie A and is quickly becoming a fan favorite. 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. , three women became the first to control a match at a senior Confederation of African Football (CAF) mens tournament. Zooming in on the . "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. VideoCounty Antrim pupils record special coronation hymn. However, at the time, they could not be appointed to games because there were no women on the 1991 FIFA List of Referees. Currently, there are more than 200 female referees who are officially part of the FIFA Referees Committee, making up around 15% of the total number of referees in FIFA. 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. I never want to be appointed based on anything else. They need to earn the positions, pass the fitness tests and be technically capable. 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.". "We'll get Monday out of the way. So the sight of four female refs on the pitch was nothing short of astonishing. 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. "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. Lucy has been officiating football matches since she was 15 and has since become one of the most respected referees in the game. Francia Gonzalez worked as the Fourth Referee and Dianne Ferreira-James of Guyana as Assessor. 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. 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. . 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. Play for free, entries by 3:00pm. hbspt.forms.create({ Our group ranges across the positions, with a left-winger, a goalkeeper, a striker and a centre-back. "It's not something I thought that, when I decided to be a referee 11 years ago, I would be in the Football League doing a game. "I don't want women to be promoted to the middle of the Premier League just so we can tick a box. They're really proud. 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. When Rebecca Welch stands at the centre of the pitch at Wetherby Road on Monday, she will be doing the job she does week in and out as a referee. 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. "We know who we are as a fairly big club and that we are a great team. I was so shocked to see four female refs that I took a photo of my TV. 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. 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. The Premier League could still be a decade away from assigning its first female referee, according to Referees' Association chairman Paul Field. ", Paige Williams (Leeds United Women midfielder). Some of us were lucky and had a mixed team to play with. In February 2021, Brazilian referee Edina Alves Batista became the first woman to officiate the Club World Cup. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. Frappart becomes first female ref in men's WCQ, Massey-Ellis: Fine line between criticism and sexism. "But when you reflect on it [and] think youre the first woman ever to do this, Im extremely proud. I'm very fortunate to have been given this opportunity and I'm really excited about it. We watched the Euros last summer at our cousin's house in Manchester and were so happy when Chloe Kelly scored the winning goal. "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. ", April Hill, Macey Nikiah-Walters & Esme Parsons (Portsmouth Women Development players). Rebecca Welch has become the first female referee to be appointed to a game in the English Football League, it has been announced. Claudia Umpierrez is a groundbreaking female referee in the world of football. They have to be good enough, but we have got girls coming through now who are possibly good enough.". The first female referee in FIFA was Jacqui Melksham, who was approved in 2005. [5][6][7], She is based in Coventry, West Midlands. "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. This includes a commitment to increase the number of female referees for international and club matches. Qatar World Cup to feature three female referees with Premier League's 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. 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. We've had to analyse Stourbridge Women a lot and hold respect for the opponents. Rebecca Welch made history on Monday as she became the first appointed female referee to take charge of an English Football League (EFL) game. The 32-year-old from Coventry is one of the assistant referees at . "It would have been nice to have had a girls' team. There are more than 50 female officials across the Premier League, Championship, Women's Super League and Women's Championship. 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. How Kathryn Nesbitt became one of the World Cup's first female refs She. That didn't even register on my radar. 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. [19], Massey-Ellis's early international career has included involvement in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup by taking up the role of fourth official for England's 40 qualification stage win over Austria on 20 April 2006. We need to keep on educating people, about how it makes that person feel. Ref 2 Mark Scholes 4th Official Graham Scott. That's always something we're striving towards on a daily occurrence.". It helped the game become stable after years of stagnancy. When I'm not at football matches, I also do media at a lawn-mowing company. I've got faith in the system, and I've been rewarded.". 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. I never want to be appointed based on anything else. Steinhaus-Webb, who became the first woman to referee. The Premier League is still waiting for a similar milestone, so when might a woman take charge of a top-flight men's game in England? Wendy was born on 16 October 1962 in Dorset, England. omen in professional sports as players, game officials, coaches and front office personnel w, virtually non-existent. Of course, theres also plenty of coverage of other South American domestic leagues and international games. Welch said it was only recently that she had come to consider her position as a pioneer. All rights reserved. "The professional behaviour we can see now in the whole environment, it is absolutely overwhelming.". 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. Per the BBC, as of June 2020, there were 2,146 women refereeing across all levels of English football. 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. However, Welch will be the first female referee to have been officially appointed for a game. To become a FIFA referee, applicants must pass a fitness test and complete a refereeing course. They're top of the table in Division 1 in the Midlands so they are really good. became the first woman to officiate the Club World Cup. 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. Katie Patterson is making history as the first female to referee a professional football match in England. What Is A Double Double In Basketball? Sian Louise Massey-Ellis MBE (ne Massey; born 5 October 1985) is an English football match official who officiates generally in the role of assistant referee in the Premier League and the Football League.She has also been appointed to matches in the Football League Trophy, UEFA Women's Champions League, FIFA Women's World Cup qualification rounds, the FIFA Women's World Cup and the UEFA . region: "na1", (Argentina) and Neuza Back (Brazil), were the first women to be appointed to work a senior FIFA mens tournament. Analysis and opinion from our chief football writer. There are currently eleven different levels of referees that correspond to the ability, age and activity of the official. of female referees which she updates regularly. Janie Frampton was one of the first female referees in the men's professional game in England and went on to instruct referees for Fifa for a decade. She was also an assistant referee for the qualification stage of UEFA Women's Euro 2009. How to get into football - the most popular sport in the world, with clubs and facilities throughout the UK. FIFA, the international governing body of football, has taken great strides in recent years to promote gender equality in the sport. 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. "I actually have two jobs. Football refereeing in England. Nothing will teach you that better than, As it is the true sport of the world, the history of soccer (football) is, Groundhopper Guides has a look at soccer in the Olympics: the history, the mens and, All rights reserved 2023 Groundhopper Soccer Guides | Terms of Service | Privacy. They have the same level of knowledge, training and experience in the game, and are often more organized and efficient. Welch was one of 12 referees at the Women's Euro 2022, with Massey-Ellis and Rashid among the assistants. 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. However, at the time, they could not be appointed to games because there were no women on the 1991 FIFA List of Referees. 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. As I live in Ecuador, that usually means Im tuning in to a LigaPro Serie A match (thats the top domestic level in which my team, Barcelona, won the title last season). The 2022 World Cup will include female referees for the first time at a major men's international tournament, with Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor also selected to officiate. I dont want women appointed because theyre women. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. "Unfortunately, at my age I can't play myself, so it is nice to watch the others get out there and be active - especially the women. They're really proud," she said. English Football League appoints its first female referee English football referees officiate matches in English football. "I got the news on Saturday and haven't come back down to earth yet. Nathan McAndrew's return of 5-53 is so far his best figures in England. Like all referees, Welch has to earn her stripes and move up the ladder accordingly. Akhona Makalima on becoming the certified female soccer referee in Yes, the Premier League does have female referees. She has praised the support and influence of Sian Massey-Ellis, an assistant referee in the Premier League. In 2019, Yoshimi Yamashita, alongside Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi, took charge of a group match in the AFC Cup. Hamilton Academical; Partick Thistle; Scottish League One . French referee Stephanie Frappart will make history Tuesday as the first female to referee a UEFA Champions League game. 'I'm going to ref at the World Cup' says UK's first Muslim referee. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. Rebecca Welch becomes first female referee to be appointed to EFL game ahead of Harrogate Town vs Port Vale, Rebecca Welch has told Sky Sports News of her pride and excitement as she is set to become the first female appointed to referee a game in the English Football League. Around the same time, women were receiving their first appointments at the top levels of the mens game. A lack of role models is thought to be part of the problem. [29][failed verification], Last edited on 12 February 2023, at 21:39, FIFA Women's World Cup qualification rounds, Member of the Order of the British Empire, "England Sian Massey Profile with news, career statistics and history Soccerway", "Education & Technical - Referees by Association", "Sian Massey-Ellis Stars As Female Assistant Referee in Wolves vs Liverpool Match", "National Group Assistant Profile Sian Massey-Ellis", "Female assistant referee Sian Massey 'epitomises quality' FA are looking for despite Richard Keys and Andy Gray", "Kevin McNaughton's barge on Sian Massey declared accidental", "Richard Keys resigns from Sky after sexist remarks", "Sky reporter Andy Burton dropped in wake of Sian Massey comments", "Andy Gray sacked by Sky for offensive behaviour", "Sian Massey withdrawn from refereeing Blue Square match", "Iranian TV station censors footage of female football referee's legs", "UEFA.com Women's EURO 2009 Slovenia-Ukraine", "Women's World Cup 2011 Norway-Ukraine", "Women's World Cup 2011 Czech Republic-Sweden", "Women's World Cup 2011 Belgium-Azerbaijan", "Women's EURO referees - the tournament's 17th team", "Admkov to referee Women's Champions League final", "FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 - News - Match officials appointed for FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 - FIFA.com", "Sian Massey-Ellis becomes first English female to officiate in a men's European tie", "Footballers who have backed out of a transfer for another late in the day", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sian_Massey-Ellis&oldid=1139005487, This page was last edited on 12 February 2023, at 21:39.