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Today, Saturday, Rebecca Welsh wrote a beautiful page in the history of the English Premier League, after she became the first female stadium judge to officiate a match in the Premier League.
Welsh (40 years old) took charge of the match between Burnley and its host Fulham (2-0) in the 18th round of the competition, and issued three warnings to Nigerian Calvin Bassey (25), Portuguese Joao Balenha (58), and Burnley player Jordan Bayer (61).
According to figures reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation, after 48,533 Premier League matches since 1888, this is the first time that a woman has managed a match in the most followed league in the world.
The British Health Authority employee began her refereeing career in 2010, and refereed the first professional men’s match in the fourth division between Harrogate and Port Vale in 2021.
Welsh also officiated matches in the Championship and FA Cup, and also appeared in the Women’s World Cup last summer.
Only two years ago, Rebecca Welch became the first female to referee an #EFL fixture – Harrogate 0-2 Port Vale.
This afternoon – Rebecca is making her Premier League debut as she takes control of #FULBUR.
A terrific reception for the role-model, inspiration and trailblazer… pic.twitter.com/HYjh1DwjBU
— Will Lawless (@LawlessW33) December 23, 2023
Women’s referees in the five major leagues
Welsh has written her name in Premier League history, but she is not the first referee to officiate matches in the top five leagues.
It was preceded by:
German Bibiana Steinhaus: She officiated her first match in the German League (Bundesliga) between Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen (1-1) on September 10, 2017.
French Stephanie Frappart: She refereed for the first time in the French League in the match between Amiens and Strasbourg on April 28, 2019.
Italian Maria Saul Ferreri Capote: The first female to referee an Italian Serie A match between Sassuolo and Salernitana on October 2, 2020.
👩 – The 1st female referee in Europe’s top 5⃣ domestic leagues
🏴 – Rebecca Welch (23 Dec 2023)
🇬🇧 – Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi (2 Oct 2022)
🇫🇷 – Stephanie Frappart (Apr 28, 2019)
🇩🇪 – Bibiana Steinhaus (10 Sep 2017)
🇪🇸 – ❌#EPL #FULBUR— Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) December 23, 2023
