Paris (AFP)

Referee Stéphanie Frappart, the only female officer in Ligue 1, was entrusted with her first national shock, Lyon-Marseille, on Sunday, a year and a half after her elite debut.

This will be the 16th match led by the 36-year-old Francilienne, and her third (in six days) for the current season.

She was in Reims on August 30 for the victory of Lille (1-0), and in Montpellier on September 20, for the success of the locals against Angers (4-1).

Frappart has already refereed OM (against Toulouse, February 8, 2020), but never OL, nor Paris SG.

Between her debut in Ligue 2 in 2014 and the final of the 2019 Women's World Cup that she led, this pioneer has made a place for herself, as a scout, in the football world, which sometimes struggles to get rid of. a reputation for machismo.

She became the first woman appointed as main referee in L1, April 28, 2019 for Amiens-Strasbourg (1-1).

"It is at the same time a privilege, an honor and a responsibility. I hope that my course will encourage young girls to engage in arbitration", she said in the summer of 2019 at the dawn of his first full season in the elite - finally interrupted by the coronavirus in March.

Frappart distinguished herself to the point of being chosen by UEFA to officiate at the European Supercup between Liverpool and Chelsea (2-2 ap, 5 tab to 4) on August 15, 2019.

This is the first time that a woman has led a major male meeting, with all-female assistants.

"There was so much pressure for this historic moment ... They stayed calm and did what they had to do. I could not have more respect for Stéphanie Frappart", said after the meeting the coach. by Liverpool Jürgen Klopp.

In France, before her, Nelly Viennot was assistant referee, at the edge of the field, for ten years until 2007.

The German Bibiana Steinhaus was the first woman to referee a match of a major European Championship, in 2017. She retired Wednesday, at 41, after the German Supercup won by Bayern against Dortmund (3- 2).

The first shock of the Championship this season, PSG-OM (0-1) on September 13, was punctuated by controversies related to arbitration, with the start of a general fight which caused five exclusions.

© 2020 AFP