Qatar’s World Cup is the First Edition Ever to Have Female Referees

In a historical precedent, Qatar's World Cup 2022 will be the first edition to include female referees, as three women will enter history hoping to perform a distinguished performance during the tournament.

According to the France-Press agency, the French Stephanie Frapard, the Rwandan Salima Mukansanga, and the Japanese Yoshimi Yamashita were included in the list of 36 referees chosen by the International Federation (FIFA), while three other women will participate as assistant referees.

The three female referees were chosen, in addition to the assistant referees, who are the Brazilian Noiza Buck, the Mexican Karen Diaz Medina, and the American Catherine Nisbet, after they proved themselves in the men's game.

"We clearly affirm that quality is what matters to us, regardless of the referee's gender or nationality," said Pierluigi Collina, head of the FIFA Referees Committee.

Stephanie Frappard

For Frappard, 38, her choice of the World Cup seemed the next logical step, after her rapid rise to refereeing at the highest level in Europe.

She was the first woman to officiate a Ligue 1 match in 2019, and in the same year, she took charge of the Women's World Cup Final in her home country.

Frappard also officiated the 2019 European Super Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea, before refereeing matches in the Champions League in 2020 and then the French Cup final last season.

Frappard commented on her participation in the World Cup: "I am really touched because I did not expect it. Nothing is better than participating in the World Cup."

Yoshimi Yamashita

Yamashita, who is two years younger than Frappard, made a splash in Japan and became the first woman to officiate a match in the 2019 AFC Men's Champions League, and turned professional earlier this year, having quit her job as a fitness coach.

"Refereeing at the World Cup is a big responsibility, but I'm happy to have it," Yamashita told France-Press agency, noting that she "never imagined" that she would be given such an opportunity.

In fact, Yamashita became a referee after a college friend persuaded her, revealing that he had "pushed" her into taking charge for the first time.

Salima Mukansanga

Mukansanga, 34, has been called up for the World Cup after she became the first woman to officiate a match at the Men's Africa Cup of Nations last December.

The Rwandan once dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player, but at the age of 20 was officiating matches in the women's national league in her country.

"It is a great honor for me to participate in the World Cup, I hope to represent my country, Rwanda well," Salima Mukansanga told France-Press agency.

It is noteworthy that Qatar is fully prepared to organize an exceptional tournament, less than a month before the start of the World Cup, the first of its kind in the Arab world and the Middle East.