Published 11:53 IST, December 3rd 2020
Stephanie Frappart makes history as the first woman to referee a men's UCL game
36-year-old Stephanie Frappart created history on Wednesday, becoming the first female referee to officiate a men's Champions League game
Stephanie Frappart created history in the Juventus vs Dynamo Kyiv game, with the French football referee becoming the first woman to referee a game in the men’s UEFA Champions League. The 36-year-old took charge of the Juventus vs Dynamo Kyiv Matchday 5 game held in Turin, which the hosts won 3-0. Stephanie Frappart, who has developed a reputation as one of the best referees in recent years, was also praised online by football fans for the historic achievement.
Who is Stephanie Frappart, the first woman referee in men’s Champions League match?
Born on December 14, 1983, Stephanie Frappart is a French football referee who has been on the FIFA International Referees list since 2009. While she is a regular in Ligue 1 now, she has managed to achieve several milestones over a decade long career. 2020 has been a particularly special year for Stephanie Frappart, with the 36-year-old referee making her debut in both the Europa League and the Champions League.
Stephanie Frappart Champions League record one of many held by the famous referee
The Juventus vs Dynamo Kyiv wasn’t the first top-level men’s game Stephanie Frappart has taken charge of. In 2019, the French national became the first female referee to officiate a major men’s final when she took charge of the UEFA Super Cup final held between Liverpool and Chelsea in September 2019. In the same year, Stephanie Frappart also officiated the 2019 Women's World Cup final between the United States and the Netherlands, while also becoming the first female referee to take charge of a Ligue 1 game.
The 36-year-old also took charge of her first Europa League game in October, when she was part of the Leicester City vs Zorya Luhansk game on Matchday 1 of the competition. In the past, Stephanie Frappart has talked about the experience of refereeing a men’s game, reiterating that she wants to show that women referees are just as good as male referees whenever she takes to the field.
Fans praise Stephanie Frappart referee after Champions League debut
Celebrating the achievement, the official social media handles of UEFA posted a highlights reel of Stephanie Frappart’s first outing in the Champions League. Sharing the video, they congratulated the 36-year-old, with fans joining in the praise as well. Many fans praised UEFA for trusting Stephanie Frappart with the responsibility, while others applauded the referee for doing a great job in the Juventus vs Dynamo Kyiv game.
Image Credits: FIFA Women's World Cup Twitter
Updated 11:53 IST, December 3rd 2020