Stephanie Frappart wrote herself another piece of history when becoming the first female to referee a men’s World Cup qualifier.
Frappart is hugely respected in the game, and earlier this season she became the first female to take charge of a Champions League match, when Juventus faced Dynamo Kiev in December.
She is also the first female referee to have overseen a major men's European final when she took charge of the UEFA Super Cup clash between Liverpool and Chelsea in September, 2019, while she has refereed in Ligue 1 in her native France.
Another piece of history made
Having consistently impressed in the women’s game, Frappart broke further new ground on Saturday following her Champions League appearance as she ran the rule over the World Cup qualifier between Netherlands and Latvia.
Frappart leads the way
While Frappart is the high-profile female official - having been the referee for the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup final between USA and Netherlands - she is not the only one who has impressed, and Kateryna Monzul will follow her lead when she takes charge of the World Cup qualifier between Austria and Faroe Islands in Vienna on Sunday.
What has been said?
Pierluigi Collina is arguably the most famous referee to blow a whistle and, as the current chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee, he oversees appointments.
The Italian feels Frappart and Monzul are fully deserving of taking charge of the World Cup qualifiers.
“Although they already had some matches in important men’s competitions under their belts, officiating a FIFA World Cup qualifier for the first time is special and is something to be very proud of,” he said. “They have worked very hard in recent years and these appointments are recognition for the good job that they have done.”