Source:
REUTERS/HANNAH MCKAY
[Saba
Sports News] The Premier League has officially announced the referee
assignments for the upcoming rounds of the league, and it includes a historic
moment as the league welcomes its first female referee, Rebecca Welch. In the
18th round of the Premier League, Rebecca Welch will officiate the match
between Fulham and Burnley, making her the first-ever female referee in the
history of the Premier League. Rebecca Welch has been involved in football
refereeing since 2010 and achieved another significant milestone in 2021 when
she became the first female referee to officiate in the British Championship.
In November of the same year, Welch also served as the fourth official in a
match between Manchester United and Fulham, becoming the first female match
official in Premier League history. Additionally, the Premier League will
witness another milestone in diversity as Sam Allison will officiate the match
between Sheffield United and Luton Town in the 19th round of the Premier
League. This marks the first time in 15 years that a black referee has
officiated a match in the Premier League. In July of this year, the Premier
League Referee Company implemented a new three-year strategic reform aimed at improving
the diversity of match officials.