D.we had to pass 92 years before seeing in the history of the World Cupscheduled in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December, not one, but well three female referees in the list of match directors of a competition of this level.
Three female referees and linesmen at the Qatar World Cup
The French Stephanie Frappartthe Rwandan Salima Mukansanga and the Japanese Yoshimi Yamashita were selected together with as many linesmen, the Brazilian Neuza Backthe Mexican Karen Díaz Medina and the American Kathryn Nesbitt.
Stephanie Frappart is the veteran of the group. Great experience has already taken the field in very important competitions
Collina: “Great competence, they deserve to stay there”
“For us, quality and not gender counts»Commented the president of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina. «I hope that in the future the selection of female match officials for important men’s competitions, is perceived as something normal and no longer as sensational. They deserve to be at the World Cup because they constantly perform at a very high level, and this is the important factor for us ».
In the field Frappart, Mukansanga and Yamashita
The Francese Frappart, the one with the most international experience. She was the first woman to referee a Champions League match.
But he also took charge of some matches in Ligue 1 men, in the European Super Cup (August 2019) and in the finale of the French Cup (May 7). She is considered among the most eligible to direct a match in Qatar.
As for the Rwandan Mukansanga became the first woman to referee an Africa Cup of Nations match earlier this year, while the Japanese Yamashita she was the first female referee to direct an Asian Champions League match.
The “movement” of referees against stereotypes and discrimination
The movement of the referees continues in its climb breaking down, day after day, stereotypes and discrimination.
Because, as Roberto Rosetti, president of the UEFA Referees Commission stated some time ago, “these women deserve high praise for their hard work and dedication that brought them to this level. The presence of race directors in men’s competitions should no longer be surprising. In the last few years, UEFA has worked hard to develop European referees of both genders equally. What we see today is proof that our approach works ».
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