World Cup women’s referees insist they are being treated the same as men and ‘deserve’ to be at Qatar 2022
THE World Cup’s women referees believe they “deserve” to be at qatar 2022 – and insist they are being treated EXACTLY the same as their male counterparts.
Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga, Stephanie Frappart of France and Japanese Yoshimi Yamashita are all vying to be the first women to take charge of a men’s World Cup game.
AFPFrappart is one of the 36-strong referring team[/caption]
PAMukansanga says participating in Qatar is a ‘privilege’[/caption]
AFPJapan’s Yamashita is also at the World Cup[/caption]
They are part of the 36-strong refereeing team that did a public work out in Doha today.
Mukansanga said: “It’s a privilege for us all but we deserve to be here.
“In football there is no sex. A decision is a decision that has to be taken and being a woman doesn’t matter. It’s about performance.
“At the same time, women being part of the men’s World Cup is something really big.
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“People need to understand that: opening the doors to women and giving them an opportunity is another way to make women feel ready and able to be in a competition and succeed.
“Women are very powerful if they get a chance.”
Asked if she had been told that some games, potentially involving Muslim nations, might be off-limits, she added: “Whatever game I am designated to be at, I will do it.
“I will do it from the bottom of my heart because I want to be here and deserve to be here. Whatever game, I don’t care.”
American Assistant ref Kathryn Nesbitt agreed that the women are part of one unified team of officials.
She said: We are all in the same matches for training and have been provided the same clothing.
“We are just trying to be respectful of the culture here but we have all been invited here as similar referees.
“So we have all earned the position to be here and that is how we feel, one team.
“There is utmost respect and we want to support each other on and off the field as a team of referees.”
