Petra TabarelliSome good news from #Qatar2022: Today, for the very first time, women referees will officiate at a men's World Cup: Stéphanie Frappart and Neuza Back since 5pm CET for #MEXPOL and Salima Mukansanga and Kateryn Nesbitt at 8pm CET for #FRAAUS. More about them: ...
Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan was the first female referee at the AFC Cup (2019), but at the same time she has not yet refereed in professional Japanese men's football. Only a few weeks ago, in September 2022, she was promoted for the J1 League. #Qatar2022
Yoshimi Yamashita's international career has always preceded her domestic one. Not only in the aforementioned AFC Cup (~ Europa League). In 2022/23 she was nominated for the J League 2, shortly after for the Men's World Cup. She will be promoted to J League 1 before the end of the season. #Qatar2022
Yoshimi Yamashita worked as a sports teacher and first came into contact with refereeing at college (around 2005). There she met the Japanese assistant referee Makoto Bozono. A few years later, they made history together. #Qatar2022
So, Yoshimi Yamashita came to refereeing through Makoto Bozono. But she had no idea then that they would both make history a few years later. But that's how it happened: Both were among the first women and the first all-female team at the AFC Cup on 14 May 2019. #Qatar2022 @fussball
From a European perspective, Yoshimi Yamashita’s refereeing career is astonishing, because the AFC Cup is comparable to the UEFA Europa League and she only joined the Japanese 3rd Division for the 2021/22 season. And a year later in the J 2. And half a year later in a men's World Cup.
So: Europa League, but still in the fourth division? World Cup nomination while just being nominated to the second division? Japan may have had a hard time with female referees in men's football. #Qatar2022
So: Europa League, but still in the fourth division? World Cup nomination while just being nominated to the second division? Japan may have had a hard time with female referees in men's football. #Qatar2022