Wed, August 14, 2019

France’s Stephanie Frappart will become the first woman to referee a major European men’s game tonight in Istanbul

The French referee Stephanie Frappart will take charge of the UEFA Super Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea in Istanbul tonight. 

Frappart was the first female to referee a top-tier game in France when she took charge of the clash between Amiens and Strasbourg in April. She has recently been promoted on a permanent basis into the pool of referees for the 2019/20 Ligue 1 season.

After having led the FIFA Women’s World Cup final between the United States and the Netherlands on home soil in Lyon in July, Frappart will make history by being the first woman to referee an European men’s game, the UEFA Super Cup Final.

Frappart said: “We are not afraid of this match, we are ready.”

“It's a great honour for me, and for female referees as well. I hope it serves as an example to female referees, and to any young girls who may aspire to be a referee."

She will be assisted by Italian-born Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle O’Neill from the Republic of Ireland, and the fourth official for tonight’s match between the two English giant will be Turkey's Cuneyt Cakir.

“They are really brave, they don’t hesitate to give unpopular decisions, you will see,” said Cakir. “We are all referees.

“When we enter the pitch, they don't call us male referee or female referee.

“We are the same. We do the same fitness tests, same preparation, same laws of the game test, same training sessions. There is no difference.”

The UEFA Super Cup Final will take place tonight (14 August) at Besiktas Park in Istanbul.