French referee Frappart enters record books

AL KHOR (Qatar): On Thursday night at the Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor, fans attending the crunch match between Costa Rica and Germany were in witness to a new chapter of football history being written on the football turf. When the kick off of the last and concluding match of the Group E, French referee Stephanie Frappart entered the record books as the first woman to take charge of a FIFA World Cup match.

The Frenchwoman was the fourth official in the 0-0 draw between Mexico and Poland of Group C, becoming the first woman to occupy the role at a men's World Cup.

Frappart is no stranger to the biggest stage in the game, having officiated in six matches at the last two FIFA Women's World Cup competitions - Canada 2015 and France 2019.

Frappart felt a special pride in representing France as a FIFA World Cup referee.

"I felt enormous emotion because it wasn't particularly expected that I would be picked. So, (I feel) a lot of pride, a lot of honour, to represent France at the World Cup."

Frappart said that being a referee at the FIFA World Cup 2022 would mean that she would have to keep emotions in check to ensure optimal performance on the pitch.

"I think I'll have everything that's around me in mind, and the aim will still be the same, that is the referee according to the performance on the pitch. So, I'm really going to head into this with enormous emotion, but you have to channel that because clearly the important thing is the pitch."

Besides, two other women referees are on the brink of history as they look set to officiate at the men's football World Cup in the coming days after Frappart.

Yamashita Yoshimi and Salima Mukansanga have all been named among the 36 referees selected for the tournament that concludes on December 18. (IANS)

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