Argentina celebrated their 2022 World Cup victory, winning twice before in 1978 and 1986. However, we want to take the time to highlight another record broken and a huge milestone in Football history.
This significant and historical moment we have witnessed is three women; Stephanie Frappart, Neuza Back and Karen Diaz, who have become the first-ever female trio to referee a men’s World Cup game at the Costa Rica and Germany Group E match in Qatar.
The importance of the moment will not only go down in World Cup history, but will have a positive and significant impact on tournaments in the future. The 92-year wait for an all-female officiation has been welcomed with many celebrating this landmark in the world of football.
This Thursday, an all-female refereeing trio will take charge of a men’s @FIFAWorldCup match for the first time.
Stéphanie Frappart will be joined by assistants Neuza Back and Karen Diaz in overseeing @fedefutbolcrc against @DFB_Team.
History in the making! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/KusT7SOUn9
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) November 29, 2022
Stephanie Frappart
French referee Stephanie Frappart is no stranger to breaking barriers in the football world as earlier in the Qatar Men’s World Cup, she became the first-ever woman to help officiate a game during the Group C match of Poland V Mexico, at the Al Bayt Stadium during the knock-out stages, and did so as a fourth official.
She has had an impressive refereeing journey so far, as in 2021 during the World Cup Qualifier of Netherlands V Latvia in Amsterdam, Frappart was also the first woman to take charge of a Men’s Qualifying match, further doing so at a European match between Chelsea and Liverpool at the Super Cup Final.
Her football journey started at the age of 10 in Herblay-sur-Seine, before her keen interest in refereeing started. Frappart has taken the World Cup by storm but notably made history at a French Ligue 1 Match in 2019 as well as at a Men’s Champions League match a year later in 2020.
With creating so many records, Frappart’s achievements have been recognised through winning three IFFHS World’s Best Woman Referee titles in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Neuza Back
Joining Frappart on the pitch was Brazilian referee Neuza Back, who has previously officiated over 100 Brazil Series A and B football matches. Her international debut in a Men’s game came in 2020 and a year later in a FIFA adult Men’s competition.
Not only has Back been recognised for her officiating talent, but her football skills too. She made her professional football debut back in 2008 when competing in Campeonato Catarinense.
Karen Diaz Medina
The final member of the trio is Karen Diaz Medina, a referee from Mexico. Karen has been a FIFA Assistant Referee since 2018 and made history herself in 2020 when she became the first-ever woman to officiate the second leg of the 2020 Liga MX Final. and she is no stranger to making history.
She further officiated at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup, and again made history when she became the first woman to do so.
Before the history-making match Pierluigi Collinathe, FIFA Referees Committee Chairman, spoke about how Frappart, Back and Diaz were not selected because they are women, but because they are talented FIFA referees, qualified to officiate any fame.
The 92-year wait for an all-female trio was met with positivity and progress for women as it is a step in the right direction for women working in the world of football however notably out of the 129 referees that worked at the Qatar World Cup, only six were female.
Written by Caitlin Carroll
