Stéphanie Frappart has etched her name into the annals of football history as the first woman to officiate a men's FIFA World Cup match, a milestone she achieved during the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Now, the French referee is taking on a new responsibility that underscores her standing in the sport: she has been recruited by UEFA to serve as a full‑time refereeing officer, tasked with training and appointing match officials for the governing body’s European competitions.
A historic appointment
Frappart will replace Czech veteran Dagmar Damková, who held the position until recently, and will work alongside a team that includes American official Tori Penso, who recently made her second appearance as a referee in the men's World Cup.
Her appointment marks the latest step in a career that has already seen her break barriers in France’s Ligue 1 and on the UEFA Champions League stage, as well as officiating finals in both the women's World Cup and the women's Euro.
The move is being hailed as a signal of UEFA’s commitment to gender diversity in a traditionally male‑dominated arena, and it places Frappart at the heart of the continent’s officiating structure as it prepares for upcoming tournaments.
Trailblazing a path for future generations
Beyond the technical aspects of her new role, Frappart’s presence in the UEFA ranks serves as an inspiration for aspiring female officials worldwide, encouraging federations to invest in women’s refereeing development and to see meritocracy as a realistic goal.