In the world of professional football, there are very few women. Men’s competitions are more publicized than women’s. In terms of refereeing, very few women manage to rise to the ranks of great football referees. But in France, one woman has stood out and made her whistle heard on a global level. Her name is Stéphanie Frappart. Initially a football player, she transitioned to refereeing and has been officiating in various competitions since 2011. Outside of France, her whistle resonates in several European or international competitions, each time setting a record.
Stéphanie Frappart’s Journey in France
Stéphanie Frappart began her refereeing career officiating amateur matches in the division of honor in France at the age of 19. In May 2011, she faced her first challenge: the final of the Women’s French Challenge between AS Saint-Etienne and Montpellier. Between 2011 and 2014, she served as a referee in National 1, the third level of men’s football in France. It was only in this last year that she achieved a breakthrough in professional football in the country of Zinedine Zidane.
She was appointed to officiate for the first time in Ligue 2, making her the first woman to referee in the second tier of French football. She also refereed in the French Cup. Also in 2014, she was named the best female referee at the UNFP Football Trophies. In 2015, she was entrusted with several matches in the League Cup. It was in 2019 that she reached the highest football competition in France by refereeing a Ligue 1 match as the central referee. On this occasion, she became the first woman to officiate a match in the French first division championship. A piece of good news similar to what Belgian Casino777 fans have learned. Indeed, Casino777 is also available for Belgian players.
Stéphanie Frappart on the International Scene
The French referee has been officiating since 2013 in the Women’s Champions League. In 2019, the 36-year-old referee officiated in the UEFA Super Cup and Europa League that year. In international competition, she refereed this year in the UEFA Nations League and the Women’s World Cup last year and in 2015. In 2018, she also officiated in the same competition but for the under-20s. Her whistle resounded at the Olympic Games in 2016 and also during the Women’s Euro in 2017.
On December 2, 2020, Stéphanie Frappart will add a new record to her long list. She has been appointed to referee the UEFA Champions League match between Juventus and Dynamo Kiev, counting for the 5th and penultimate day of the group stage of the 2020-2021 season. A match that was available on excelsior.be. She thus becomes the first woman to officiate a match in the history of the Champions League. Stéphanie Frappart has crossed several stages in her young career. Now we just have to see her during a men’s World Cup final phase.
