FIFA U-17 World Cup: Female assistant referees to be seen for first time

Seven female assistant referees have been chosen by FIFA from each continent and they will coordinate with around 70 male referees during the 52 matches taking place in October across six venues.

Seven female assistant referees have been chosen from each continent to officiate FIFA U-17 World Cup matches in India.

FIFA U-17 World Cup taking place in India from October 6 to 28 will see a female assistant referee for the first time as the organisers are of the view that it is high time that elite female support referees be officiated in a men’s competition.

Seven female assistant referees have been chosen by FIFA from across the world (seven from each continent) and they will coordinate with around 70 male referees during the 52 matches taking place in October across six venues.

FIFA said in a statement, “FIFA has selected seven support referees, but with a twist: for the first-ever time, FIFA has selected female referees for a men’s tournament. The results and improvements seen in the joint preparations have shown the time has come for elite female referees to officiate in men’s competitions together with their male colleagues.”

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FIFA’s Head of Refereeing Massimo Busacca said, “We think it’s time for elite female referees to be involved in a FIFA men’s competition. They worked together with male match officials last year and now we want to see them working together in a competition.”

AIFF have chosen 16 match officials to train with the 77 enlisted FIFA officials during their charge at the U-17 World Cup. AIFF Director Referees Goutam Kar was quoted by PTI as saying, “It’s a lifetime opportunity for the Indian match officials who are getting a massive chance to learn the nuances of officiating a match of the highest level. It’s the first of its kind of initiative by FIFA to include the host nation’s officials to boost their skills while learning from ones who are adjudged to be the best in the business.”