Already, we can confidently say that the UEFA Super Cup match, in which the English Liverpool and Chelsea will meet on August 14, will go down in football history. For the first time an official meeting of this level will be judged by a female brigade of arbitrators headed by a Frenchwoman Stephanie Frappar. This was reported by the press service of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
“For the first time in history, a female arbiter will work at a match of a major UEFA tournament with the participation of men's teams. The UEFA Super Cup traditionally launches a new European season, and there are winners in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. This year it will be played in Istanbul at the Besiktas Park stadium, the statement said on the organization’s official website.
Compatriot Frappar Manuel Nicolosi and Irish Michelle O'Neill will act as line arbiters. The fourth member of the brigade will be an experienced Turkish referee Dzhuneit Chakyr, at various times serving the largest European Cup matches, as well as meetings in the framework of the continental and world championships, including the 2019 World Cup.
Despite the relatively young age for the referee, 35-year-old Frappar can boast a serious career in the international arena. In 2009, she entered the official list of judges of the International Football Federation (FIFA), and two years later she worked at the matches of Nacional - the third-most powerful division of the French Championship.
In 2014, she became the first judge of the men's tournament in the framework of League 2, and in 2015 she made her debut at the women's championship in Canada. In April of this year, the referee served their first match in Ligue 1, in which Strasbourg and Amiens met. In June, it became known that she will continue to work in the top French division next season.
The main achievement in the career of Frappar at the moment is refereeing in the finals of the women's world championship in 2019, in which the teams of the Netherlands and the USA came together. In this meeting, she awarded one penalty, leading the North American team forward, and also showed three yellow cards. In this match, she was also helped by Nicolosi and O'Neill.
They explained their historic decision in UEFA by the fact that the French woman has sufficient experience and reliability, which she has repeatedly demonstrated at various levels.
“Over the years, Stephanie has proven herself to be one of the top female referees. Not only in Europe, but in the world. She is able to serve the matches of the highest level, as proved this year in the finals of the women's world championship. I hope the meeting in Istanbul will give her even more experience during the period when she comes to the height of her judicial career, ”said Roberto Rosetti, senior officer of the judging organization.
Recently, UEFA has paid great attention to the presence of women in football. Women's international tournaments are covered no less than men's, following the results of the 2018/19 season, the Golden Ball along with Real's midfielder Luka Modric received the Norwegian forward Lyon Ada Hegerberg for the first time, and the organization itself is actively fighting for gender equality not only on the field, but also in the stands.
“Our organization pays exceptional attention to the development of women's football in all areas. I hope the skill and dedication, thanks to which Stephanie led her career to such a high level, will inspire millions of girls and women across Europe and show them that nothing should stand in the way of their dream, ”said UEFA President Alexander Cheferin.
After the final of the 2019 World Cup, the Frenchwoman herself noted that she did not feel much difference between serving men's and women's matches. However, according to her, going out on the field, she feels a responsibility to women for whom she is an example in this field.
“It really presses when you have to prove that everything is possible, and young girls are watching you on TV, ready to follow your path. After all, before we had only male judges. I hope my example will inspire them, ”Frappar told Le Parisien in an interview.
The news of the appointment of the female brigade of arbitrators was positively evaluated by the former FIFA referee Natalia Avdonchenko. She suggested that in the future football authorities will more often trust the refereeing of women. In her opinion, this is partly due to the introduction of modern technologies.
“If there is any mistake on the part of a female judge, then VAR will help. It seems to me that UEFA believes that in the future we need to trust more matches to women. When I saw this news, I was very happy for the girl, I inspected her when she was just starting out. For the French it's great, not everyone can judge such matches, this is a crazy step for Stephanie, ”Avondonchenko quoted TASS.
In 2004, Nicole Petinia became a pioneer among women arbitrators in European competition. Like her French colleague, having received a FIFA license in 1996, she began her career as a judge in the top division of the Swiss championship among men's teams. Then the referee served the matches of the qualifying round of the UEFA Cup and completed her professional career in 2009.