Chile will become the latest country to boast a female referee in men's professional football, following the announcement by the league (ANFP) that Maria Belen Carvajal will take charge of a second division match this weekend.
The 35-year-old, who was officiating at the recent Under-17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay, will referee Sunday's match between Independiente de Cauquenes and Colchagua.
“I was not expecting it, it was a surprise,” Carvajal said in a statement. “They called me to congratulate me on my efforts in the Under-17 World Cup in Uruguay and then they told me I was going to referee in the second division.
“I am happy because I know that the referee's commission has confidence in me.”
Carvajal, who has already refereed under-17 and under-19 men's matches, will be on duty at the Women's World Cup in France next June.
In 2016, Uruguayan Claudia Umpierrez became the first woman to referee a top flight men's match - River Plate against Boston River.
Last year, Germany's Bibiana Steinhaus became the first to do it in Europe , taking charge of the Bundesliga match between Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen. She refereed eight games and is on the list again this season.
Sian Massey-Ellis has acted as an assistant referee in England's Premier League since 2010 but has yet to take charge of a game.
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