Referee Shukrula leads top match between City and Real
Shona Shukrula will lead Sunday’s meeting between the football players of Manchester City and Real Madrid in the preliminary round of the Champions League. Two years ago, the 31-year-old Dutch referee was the first female fourth official in a duel between two men’s teams in professional football in the Netherlands, at the match between Telstar and TOP Oss.
The winner of the match at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano qualifies for the play-off round of the Champions League. Manchester City and Real Madrid reached the final of the preliminary round by both winning 6-0 in the first group match of a mini-tournament. Manchester City beat Tomiris-Turan, while Real were too strong for Sturm Graz.
Shukrula has since been fourth official in several matches in the first division, but she is still waiting for her debut as a referee at that level.