At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
There is a beautiful landscape composed of women
It's not a female fan this time
It appeared for the first time in the men's World Cup
Six female referees
In May, FIFA announced
They were selected as referees for this World Cup
The picture above, from left to right, top to bottom:
Stephanie Frapal (France)
Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda)
Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan)
Neuza Baker (Brazil)
Karen Medina (Mexico)
Catherine Nesbitt (USA)
The moment that rewrote history took place on November 22
974 Stadium Doha, Qatar
Group C Mexico vs Poland
Vrapal was involved in law enforcement as a fourth officer
↓ Vrapal (center) before the game
Be able to be part of the FIFA Men's World Cup refereeing team
There is nothing special about these women's winning formula
That is
Not inferior to the level and strength of male referees
And that's exactly what happened
Japan Female Trial Yoshimi Yamashita
In early November, all the referees arrived in Qatar
Conduct skills and physical training
Both male and female judges must meet the same requirements
↓ In June this year, Yoshimi Yamashita was in training organized by the Japan Football Association
Take, for example, Vrapal, who will turn 39 this December
There have been many highlights in her career
In 2019, she became the first female referee in Ligue 1
In that year, as the referee, she also punished the women's World Cup final,
Men's UEFA Super Cup
In 2020
She became the first female referee to referee the men's Champions League
Coupe de France last season
She blew the final penalty
……
↑Referee Vrapal (second from right) shows a yellow card to Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta (third from right) during the UEFA Super Cup 2019 in Istanbul, Turkey, August 14, 2019
On 2 December 2020, Vrapal refereeed Juventus in Group G of that year's Champions League at home against Dynamo Kyiv
↑On December 2, 2020, before the Champions League on the day of refereeing, Vrapal (left) warmed up with the assistant referee on the spot
↑Shortly before the start of this World Cup, Vrapal was still in charge of the Champions League match, which was her referee in Real Madrid's Group F group match against Celtic on November 2
"They're not here because they're women.
It's because they're FIFA match officials."
Corina, chairman of the FIFA referee committee, said
"We think about the quality of enforcement
not gender"
↑On April 1, 2022, Corina, president of the FIFA Referee Committee and former Italian football referee, attended the draw ceremony for the World Cup in Qatar
As Frapal said before enforcing the UEFA Super Cup
"We train all the time, we are fearless
We're always ready
Men's football is no different from women's football
Football is the same
The rules are the same"
↑On November 22, before the group stage of the World Cup Mexico and Poland in Qatar, Vrapal greeted the players
These female referees took to the stage of the Men's World Cup
It's because they're great judges
meantime
Female identity also means:
They have a different historical mission
Yoshimi Yamashita thought
This is a signal
Proof that the potential of women is being seen
↑On November 23, in the Group F match of the World Cup in Qatar, Belgium played against Canada, and the fourth official Yoshimi Yamashita (second from left) was in front of the match
↑On May 15, 2019, Yoshimi Yamashita referee refereeed an AFC Cup match in Yangon, Myanmar
Mukansanga also feels a mission:
"This means
You were the first to open that door for other women
Especially in Africa, the responsibility is heavy
You have to take every step of the way
So that other women can see it
The door is always open and they can walk in."
↑France vs. Australia in Group D of the World Cup in Qatar on November 22, fourth official and Rwandan referee Salima Mukansanga (left) before the match
↑On January 18, Mukansanga (center) refereeed the men's Africa Cup of Nations match between Zimbabwe and Guinea
Nesbitt of the United States is not only a good assistant referee
He was also an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at Towson University
After 2019, he worked full-time as a football referee
In both areas where men are well represented
Nesbitt felt
To make a good impression
Then do your job well
Nesbitt said there was a race
She sprinted to the corner flag at the same time as a male player
She kept up with the athletes
Also earned his respect
↑On March 25, 2021, Nesbitt worked as an assistant referee during the match between Bermuda and Canada in the Qatar World Cup qualifiers
As Corina said
"Hopefully, in the future, good female tournament officers will be selected to enforce men's competitions."
It's a common thing
They deserve to be on the stage of the World Cup
Because they've been doing well."
Reporter: Wang Chunyan, Wei Jingyu
Planned and edited: Wang Qinou
Images: Wang Lili, Xiao Yijiu, Niku, Li Gang, Li Ming
Some of the images come from the Internet