The 32-year-old Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi has previously refereed a match in the men's Italian cup, but will now referee men on a regular basis.

- I prefer to just be called a judge.

I think that when there is no longer a need to emphasize that I am a woman, it has really become equal equality, she says according to QuotidianoNazionale.

Referee base Gianluca Rocchi is also of the opinion that the selection has nothing to do with Ferrieri Caputi's gender.

- I can guarantee that she will be able to judge in Serie A because she deserves it, he says.