UEFA breaks history as they appoint female referees to officiate Super Cup Final between Liverpool and Chelsea.

We just had a historic UEFA competition season, with the both UEFA finals been occupied by English teams. Chelsea who succeeded in beating Arsenal and Liverpool who lifted the Champions league after thrashing Tottenham.

It appears that the UEFA wants to add more taste to the memorable season as they federation decided to appoint French female referee to officiate the Super cup final between the Champions league winners and the Europa League winners.

It’s although not the first time a female referee would be officiating a UEFA match, but its the first time a female referee would be giving orders in UEFA finals.

Swiss Nicole Petignat is the first woman to officiate UEFA game when she refereed three UEFA Cup qualifying round games between 2004 and 2009.

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Stéphanie Frappart is a French referee who is known for her high profile career following her past records of being the first female referee to officiate a league 1 match and now has been called up to be among the referees to officiate in the 2019/2020 League 1 season on permanent basis.

She had the honor of refereeing the FIFA Women’s World Cup in July when United States faced Netherlands in Lyon but before then, she had officiated the UEFA Women’s Euro semi finals in 2017 and also the 2012 UEFA Women’s Euro U19 championship in Turkey.

As Frappart sets to officiate the UEFA Super Cup final on August 14th at the Vodafone Arena in Istanbul, she would be assisted by Wexford’s Michelle O’Neill, Manuela Nicolosi and Turkish Cuneyt Cakir who is the only male assistant referee appointed for the match.

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Massimiliano Irrati, François Letexier and Mark Borsch have been named to help French Clement Turpin with the VAR job.

The UEFA president, Aleksander Čeferin ceased not to applaud Frappart for her professionalism that has got seen her attend such a height as a referee.

“I have said on many occasions that the potential for women’s football has no limits and I am delighted that Stéphanie Frappart has been appointed to officiate at this year’s UEFA Super Cup along with assistant referees Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle O’Neal.” The President said.

“As an organisation, we place the utmost importance on the development of women’s football in all areas. I hope the skill and devotion that Stéphanie has shown throughout her career to reach this level will provide inspiration to millions of girls and women around Europe and show them there should be no barriers in order to reach one’s dream.” He ended.

The UEFA Chief Refereeing Officer, Roberto Rosetti added more life to the President’s words as he also praised the French woman.

“Stéphanie has proved over a number of years that she is one of the best female referees, not just in Europe but across the world,” Rosetti said.

“She has the ability to officiate on the biggest stage, as she proved at this year’s Women’s World Cup final. I hope this match in Istanbul will provide her with yet more experience as she enters the prime of her refereeing career.”