FERW congratulates the referee for today’s Germany vs Costa Rica game for achieving a milestone for women in football.
Stéphanie Frappart from France had already worked in a more low-profile role as a fourth official previously in the tournament. But today, she takes control of the game on the pitch as the first woman ever to do so at this stage of the competition. Moreover, she will be joined on the touchlines by Neuza Back of Brazil and Karen Diaz Medina of Mexico.
Frappart is an experienced ref having worked at this level in the women’s tournament and also in the men’s qualifiers.
As under ten percent of the referees in this competition are women, and only 5% of assistant referees, this is will be a rare high profile opportunity across the competition to highlight the contribution women can and do make to the sport.
(Photo: Sven Mandel via Wikipedia)
