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World Cup to feature female referees for the first time


The 2022 World Cup will include female referees for the first time at a major men's international tournament, with Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor also selected to officiate.

Three female referees and three assistant referees who have already been paving the way for female officials in the men's game are included on the list for Qatar 2022.

Stephanie Frappart has led the way in Europe, becoming the first female to referee a Champions League match and European Qualifier in recent years, and has also taken charge of games in Ligue 1.

Rwandan Salima Mukansanga became the first woman to referee a match at the Africa Cup on Nations earlier this year.

Yoshimi Yamashita, who comes from Japan, was the first woman referee to take charge of an AFC Champions League match earlier this year.

The assistant referees will be Neuza Back (Brazil), Kathryn Nesbitt (USA) and Karen Diaz Medina (Mexico).

Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina said: "This concludes a long process that began several years ago with the deployment of female referees at FIFA men's junior and senior tournaments

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