A Message of Equity from Female Referees

KOMPAS/MUHAMMAD IKHSAN MAHAR

The female referee from Rwanda, Salima Mukansanga, is answering media questions in the mixed zone area of the Qatar Sports Club Stadium, Friday (11/18/2022).

DOHA, KOMPAS — The World Cup 2022 will be a historic moment for the development of female match officials in the world. For the first time in World Cup history, FIFA is involving female referees and assistant referees. In Qatar, six female referees will be in charge.

Salima Mukansanga appeared to be the cutest of the referees taking part in a match simulation and physical training on Friday (18/11/2022) at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium, Doha. Although her height only measures 1.5 meters, Mukansanga has recorded many big achievements in her career.

The referee from Rwanda who obtained FIFA’s referee license in 2012 is one of the three main female referees to take charge in World Cup 2022. Along with Mukansanga, the other two referees are Stephanie Frappart from France and Yamashita Yoshimi from Japan.

At the time, she led the elimination round of Zimbabwe vs Guinea.

Mukansanga is also the first African female to become a referee in the most elite men’s-football competition in her continent. Before being selected as one of the 36 referees assigned to Qatar 2022, Mukansanga was entrusted with the task of directing an African Cup 2022 match. At the time, she led the elimination round of Zimbabwe vs Guinea.

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Although she has no idea which group-stage match she will direct, Mukansanga claims she is ready to assume her duty in any match. This is inextricably linked to her experience in managing all of the most-prestigious women’s tournaments, like the Olympics, Women’s World Cup, Women’s African Cup and Women’s African Champions League.

AFP/KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

Policemen stand near FIFA World Cup signs outside the Main Media Center (MMC) in Doha on November 3, 2022, ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup football tournament.

“We should prepare ourselves in the best possible way because there is no discrimination here. Male and female referees are always training together, as we are all demanded to display the best quality and performance,” she said.

The 34-year-old referee also acknowledges her personal mission in World Cup 2022. She wants female referees to be self-confident and dismiss the notion that their capability is different from that of male referees. “Our presence in World Cup 2022 serves as an arena to prove that our capability is equal to that of the other world referees,” said Mukansanga, who had been involved in FIFA tournaments since Women’s World Cup 2019.

In Qatar, the African Football Confederation is represented by six referees, 10 assistant referees and two video-assistant referees.

Biggest dreams

The enthusiasm is also shared by Kathryn Nesbitt, an assistant referee from the United States. She will be one of the three assistant referees in charge in the World Cup. The other two are Neuza Back (Brazil) and Karen Diaz Media (Mexico). They are certain to be assigned to handle at least the elimination round.

At the regional level, she was charged with handling Men’s Gold Cup 2021 and Concacaf Champions League 2022.

Like Mukansanga, Nesbitt has also made history in the United States football. She was granted the best assistant-referee title in the US Major League Soccer (MLS) in the 2020 season. At the regional level, she was charged with handling Men’s Gold Cup 2021 and Concacaf Champions League 2022. She also had experience in Women’s World Cup 2019.

“All those appearing in the World Cup are realizing their biggest dreams. Just like for players, working in the World Cup is also the biggest achievement for referees,” said Nesbitt.

The selection of World Cup 2022 referees was started by the FIFA Referee Committee three years ago, by evaluating hundreds of referees with FIFA licenses all over the world. The evaluation covered technical capability related to competition rules, communication capability, performance consistency, medical tests and being in prime physical condition.

AFP/GIUSEPPE CACACE

People walk past FIFA World Cup banners at a beach in Doha on November 3, 2022, ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup football tournament.

FIFA Referee Committee Chairperson Pierluigi Collina said the appointment of female referees and assistant referees in World Cup 2022 was based on the spirit of equity upheld by FIFA. The six female referees possess the quality to direct men’s elite tournaments.

“They deserve their place in the World Cup because they have demonstrated sufficient consistency to appear at the highest level,” said Collina.

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira).