Women referees break another glass ceiling, this time in FIFA

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 May 18:15
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Six women make history by becoming the first referees taking charge at FIFA's 2022 World Cup in Doha.

Salima Mukansanga

History is made at this year's men's World Cup Championship. FIFA selected three female referees and three assistant referees for this year's championship in Qatar, the association said on Thursday.

“We are very happy that with Stephanie Frappart from France, Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda, and Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan, as well as assistant referees Neuza Back from Brazil, Karen Diaz Medina from Mexico, and Kathryn Nesbitt from the USA, we have been able to call up female match officials for the first time in the history of a FIFA World Cup,” the chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, said.

FIFA initiated the process to groom top-notch female referees for matches several years ago. Men's World Cup event has been a conventionally-male event. Previously, FIFA gave women referees the opportunity to officiate at FIFA junior and senior championships then moved on to give them charge in more prominent tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations, UEFA Champions League, and the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Stephanie Frappart, one of the recently selected referees, has served on the FIFA international referees list since 2009. She is known for having made history as the first woman to referee in the Champions League, the World Cup Qualifiers, and the Coupe de France finals.

The process for the selection of referees for the 2022 Championship in Qatar began in 2019. The 36 referees and 69 assistant referees picked will take part in seminars and practical training sessions. This time, the six women will be the first to ever take part in these sessions despite a continuously predominantly male-oriented event.

FIFA World Cup will take place from November 21 to December 18 in Doha and is considered to be the most controversial in FIFA history, as Qatar has been facing accusations of vote-buying ever since its naming 12 years ago in 2010 and questions over its suitability for hosting the World Cup due to authorities' violations of human rights.