Salima Mukansanga as well as two other female referees will make history by becoming the first to officiate at a men’s World Cup
Salima Mukansanga, Stephanie Frappart, and Yamashita Yoshimi are the only three females of the 36 referees chosen to officiate at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. This will be the first time in history.
Neuza Back of Brazil, Mexico’s Karen Diaz Medina, and American Kathryn Nesbitt will join them as assistant referees.
Yamashita Yoshimi
Yoshimi officiated at the Women’s World Cup 2019 in France. She also officiated at the 2020 Olympic Games, held in 2021.
As reported by the Olympics, the referee expressed excitement ahead of the tournament, “There are hardly any female referees in the Middle East, so I would like to see that change, with the Qatar World Cup as the catalyst.
“The fact that women are officiating for the first time at a men’s World Cup is a sign to other people that women’s potential is always growing and that is something I also feel strongly about.”
Salima Mukansanga
Earlier this year, the chairman of Fifa’s referees’ committee, Pierluigi Collina, noted after a ‘long process’, “It is quality that counts for us and not gender.”
True to his words, that is exactly what the world is to expect from East Africa’s pride. Salima has officiated at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and now Qatar.
Subscribe to our Youtube channel Switch TV
Stephanie Frappart
Stephanie made history in 2020 by becoming the first woman to officiate a men’s Champions League match, creating a stir in the refereeing community.
The Frenchwoman has noted that the presence of female officials at the 2022 Qatar World Cup is a ‘strong’ message.
Read Also: Qatar World Cup: Five African Teams, Five African Coaches
