Tori Penso and Rebecca Welch are among 21 referees chosen to officiate soccer matches at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Penso, 38, became the first woman to referee a Major League Soccer regular season match in 20 years in 2020.
The American official also officiated the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final in Australia.
Welch, 40, became the Premier League’s first female referee when she took charge of Fulham’s 2-0 defeat to Burnley on December 23. She has been refereeing since 2010 and became the first woman to referee a match in the men’s championship – the second Englishwoman. level – early 2023.
Welch said Athleticism in 2021: “My gender has never slowed me down in refereeing. There was never a time when I came away from a match feeling like they had treated me a certain way because I’m a woman. They can treat me a certain way because I’m a referee and they don’t agree with a decision, but I haven’t been subjected to that scrutiny.
“I know other people who have done it. Ninety-eight percent of people won’t bat an eyelid when a woman shows up to referee their match, but there are still two percent who will. In the years to come, there will no longer be this visibility. This sounds negative, but it really isn’t. It will just be the norm.
MLS’s Drew Fischer was also named among the tournament’s 21 referees.
Premier League referee David Coote, meanwhile, has been named one of the video assistant referees (VAR) for the tournaments, while MLS’ Brooke Mayo and WSL’s Emily Carney have both been listed as referees assistants.
A total of 89 officials have been announced – 21 referees, 42 assistant referees, 20 video match officials and six support referees – from 45 different countries.
The women’s tournament will begin on July 25 with the gold medal match taking place at the Parc des Princes in Paris on August 10. The men’s competition will begin on July 24 with the gold medal match taking place at the same stadium on August 9.
GO FURTHER
Rebecca Welch on breaking down barriers, the history and dreams of the Premier League
(Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)