European football governing body, UEFA, has announced that female referee, Stéphanie Frappart, will officiate the UEFA Super Cup on August 14.
The French official will make history when she becomes the first female to referee a major UEFA men’s game.
The UEFA Super Cup will be contested by English clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool, at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul.
Frappart will lead a team made up of predominantly female officials in the European season’s curtain-raiser, with Manuela Nicolosi of France and Michelle O’Neill from the Republic of Ireland appointed as her assistant referees.
The 35-year-old became the first female official to take charge of a Ligue 1 match in April when she oversaw a fixture between Amiens and Strasbourg. She will join the pool of referee’s for France’s top flight in 2019-20.
Frappart will have the help of VAR during the Super Cup, with male compatriot Clement Turpin set to be the video official.
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said: “I have said on many occasions that the potential for women’s football has no limits and I am delighted that Stéphanie Frappart has been appointed to officiate at this year’s UEFA Super Cup along with assistant referees Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle O’Neal.
“As an organisation, we place the utmost importance on the development of women’s football in all areas. I hope the skill and devotion that Stéphanie has shown throughout her career to reach this level will provide inspiration to millions of girls and women around Europe and show them there should be no barriers in order to reach one’s dream.”
