Three Women Referees Set To Make History At FIFA World Cup 2022

For the first time ever in the history of FIFA World Cups, three female referees have been chosen to officiate matches at the FIFA men's World Cup.

Yamashita Yoshimi, Salima Mukansanga, and Stephanie Frappart have been selected by the World governing body to officiate in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The three referees have been named among the 36 referees selected for the tournament that begins on Nov. 20. This marks the first time women have been allowed to referee matches at the Men’s World Cup, Firstpost reported.

“We clearly emphasize that it is quality that counts for us and not gender,” Pierluigi Collina, the head of FIFA’s Referees Committee, said while announcing referee appointments.

In addition to the three female referees, female referees such as Neuza Back from Brazil, Karen Diaz Medina from Mexico, and Kathryn Nesbitt from the United States have also been chosen among the 69 assistant referees that will travel to the World Cup.

Yoshimi, a Japanese referee, became the first woman to referee an Asian Champions League match in 2019. She also presided over the 2019 Women's World Cup in France and also oversaw a match between the United States and Sweden at the 2020 Olympic Games, which were held in 2021, Sports Brief reported.

“It is a big responsibility but I am happy to have it,” Yamashita said about going to Qatar.

Mukansanga, a Rwandan referee, has been officiating for FIFA since 2012. She has officiated at the 2019 Women's World Cup, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and the men's Africa Cup of Nations.

Mukansanga once dreamt of becoming a professional basketball player. However, she was already refereeing in the women’s domestic league in her home country by the age of 20.

Frappart, 38, a French referee, officiated in her maiden final in 2019 at the World Cup in France. Later, she served as the referee for the UEFA Super Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea. Frappart became the first woman to take charge of a men's Champions League match in 2020.

“I am really moved because I didn’t necessarily expect this. It doesn’t get bigger than the World Cup,” Frappart said after being appointed as a referee for Qatar World Cup.