FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup: Referees and assist. referees announced; Trailblazers included

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022 will take place in Bhubaneswar, Goa and Navi Mumbai will see the application of the VAR technology in such an event for the first time.

A total of 14 women referees, 28 women assistant referees, three support referees and 16 video match officials will take charge of the matches | Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES

The FIFA Referees Committee officially announced the lists of the match officials who have been appointed to officiate at the forthcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022. A total of 14 women referees, 28 women assistant referees, three support referees and 16 video match officials will take charge of the matches.

Among the 14 women referees as Bouchra Karboubi of Morocco, who - in May - became the first woman from the Arab world to be a referee in a men’s final. She had taken charge in the Moroccan Throne Cup’s final on May 14.

“We are delighted that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is returning after a four-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are really looking forward to this important competition in India taking place in October.

For the match officials, of course, it’s another big stage in the preparation of the potential candidates for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023,” said the chairman of the FIFA’s Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina.

“As already mentioned on several occasions and following appointments of referees for other FIFA competitions, we’ve always worked aiming for uniformity and consistency in decision-making.

We are convinced that the appointed match officials can gain useful experience with a view to the biggest women’s football competition in the world, the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand next year,” he added.

Another referee in the list is Marie Sole Ferrieri of Italy, who became the first female referee for the Serie A 2022-23 season. She is one of the four referees from Europe, alongside Luliana Demetrescu (Romania), Ivana Martincic (Croatia) and Rebecca Welch (England).

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022 will take place in Bhubaneswar, Goa and Navi Mumbai will see the application of the VAR technology in such an event for the first time.

“This event will be another great opportunity to showcase the skills of the appointed VARs and continue the development of our female VARs as part of the Road to Australia/New Zealand 2023 project,” said FIFA’s Head of Refereeing, Women, Kari Seitz.

The competition will be played between 11 and 30 October 2022, with the D Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai hosting the final.