“We place the utmost importance on the development of women’s football in all areas.”
An Irish referee is set to make history as part of the first female led team officiating this month’s UEFA men’s final.
Wexford referee Michelle O’Neill will join the team at the Super Cup match between Chelsea and Liverpool.
She will assist alongside Frenchwoman Stéphanie Frappart. This will be the first time that a female official is set to take charge of a major UEFA men’s final.
France’s Manuela Nicolosi will be the other assistant referee with Turkey’s Cuneyt Cakir acting as the fourth official.
O’Neill currently referees in the FAI Continental Tyres Women’s National League. She is also an assistant referee in the SSE Airtricity League.
“As an organisation, we place the utmost importance on the development of women’s football in all areas,” said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin.
“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’Neill.
“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.”
20×20 is an ambitious two-year long initiative to better promote and champion women in sport.
With the tagline of “if she can’t see it, she can’t be it,” the 20×20 movement has three targets to reach by 2020:
- 20 percent more media coverage of women in sport
- 20 percent more female participation
- 20 percent more attendance at women’s competitions and events
And at Maximum Media, we’re proud that Her and SportsJOE is backing the 20×20 movement as official digital media partners.
