Qatar has given world-class tournaments like the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ a platform or a space for history to be made with female referees officiating the men's international matches for the first time ever!
This event is even more important as these tournaments were held in Qatar, a Middle Eastern country which is often viewed by the Western media or the outside world as conservative, where women are not given equal space as men. This is a testament to Qatar's progressive spirit on the global stage.
Women have time and again, broken the glass ceiling, and this has proven to be true in the world of soccer as well. Until recently, men's football tournaments hadn't seen many women participate until these women referees chose to write their names into football history. In this article, let's get to know the names of these inspiring female referees!
As per an announcement by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), for the first time, 5 women match officials will debut at AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™.
Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan officiated the India vs Australia match in Qatar on 13 January 2024, becoming the first woman to do so in the AFC Asian Cup history. For the match, she had the support of assistant referees Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi, both women from Japan.
The other women who will also officiate in the tournament include referee Jacewicz Katherine Margaret from Australia and assistant referee Kim Kyoung Min from South Korea.
France's Stephanie Frappart became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match during Qatar 2022 when she took charge of the Germany vs Costa Rica match. She was joined by assistants Neuza Back from Brazil and Karen Diaz from Mexico in overseeing the match on 1 December 2022.
Apart from Frappart, Japan's Yoshimi Yamashita and Rwanda's Salima Mukansanga were also selected by FIFA to referee the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. USA's Kathryn Nesbitt also participated as an assistant referee in the tournament.
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Source: FIFA, Asian Football Confederation
What do you think of this achievement of women in a sport that has largely seen men officiate? Please let us know in the comments below. Do share this article - it keeps us going!
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