She’s making heads turn in Doha as Stephanie Frappart gets the nod to make history as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match. This was simply unimaginable but she proved that women can stay matched as their male counterparts when given the whistle.
Alongside assistants Neuza Back from Brazil and Karen Diaz from Mexico, the Frenchwoman will form part of an all-female refereeing trio officiating Costa Rica versus Germany in Friday’s Group ‘E’ match.
For the record, six female match officials have been officiating at this World Cup – referees Frappart, Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga and Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita as well as assistant referees Back, Diaz and Kathryn Nesbitt of the US.
SHOCKER APPOINTMENT
Even she finds it a shocker. She said: “It’s a surprise, you cannot believe it and after two or three minutes, you realise that you are going to the World Cup. It’s amazing, not only for me, but also for my family and also for the French referees.”
Throughout her career, Frappart has achieved a seemingly endless series of firsts. In 2019, she became the first female referee to take charge of a Ligue 1 match, in August 2019 the first to take charge of a major men’s European match, and in 2020, the first to officiate a men’s UEFA Champions League match.
“I knew that my life changed after 2019 because most people recognised me in the street,” Frappart added. “So I am like a role model, for women referees but I think it [also] inspired some women in society or in companies to take more and more responsibility.”
FANTASTIC BOOST
Already at this World Cup, Frappart has been the fourth official on two occasions – becoming the first female official at a men’s World Cup match at Mexico versus Poland. Mukasanga and Yamashita have also been the fourth official at two and four games of this World Cup respectively.
This must be a fantastic boost for gender equality in football and the place in which they are happening as women’s rights are severely restricted in Qatar.
Rather ironic as this is happening in Qatar, where women remain tied to a male guardian – usually their father, brother, grandfather, uncle or husband – and normally require their permission for important decisions such as marrying, accessing reproductive healthcare and working in many government jobs.
Frappart said: “I was many times in Qatar for the preparation of the World Cup. I was always welcomed in a good way. I don’t know how life is there but I didn’t make the decision to go there or to organise the World Cup. So now, 10 years after, it’s difficult to say something, but I hope that this World Cup will improve life for women there.”
Hats off to Frappart and now for the start of an unbelievable chapter for women’s football refereeing, especially Singapore referees. Congratulations!
Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor