Premier League history was made on Saturday with the appointment of the first woman referee. Rebecca Welch became the first woman to officiate a Premier League fixture, having previously refereed in the Championship and at the Women’s World Cup. Welch began refereeing in 2010 while working in the NHS, before becoming a full-time official in 2019.
In January 2022, Welch refereed her first men’s fixture in the Championship. She returned to Craven Cottage in February, a month after serving as fourth official during Fulham’s 1-0 Premier League defeat by Manchester United. Burnley manager, Vincent Kompany, congratulated and admired her effort in refereeing a Premier League game.
Welch’s work has been recognized on the international stage as well, being added to FIFA’s elite list of international match officials in December 2020. Welch’s appointment comes as the Football Association announced plans to recruit 50% more referees from “historically under-represented” backgrounds by 2026.
“We have not seen a female take charge of a Premier League game ever before,” referees’ chief Howard Webb told BBC Sport. “We have some really talented officials in the men’s and women’s game. Rebecca is leading that.”
Welch’s achievement will hopefully inspire more women and girls to believe that refereeing is for them
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