Stéphanie Frappart, the French referee who became the first woman to officiate a men’s World Cup match, has now been recruited by UEFA to serve as a refereeing officer. Her appointment comes as the governing body seeks to strengthen the development of match officials across its European competitions.
A milestone for women in football refereeing
Her career has been defined by a series of firsts: she broke new ground by becoming the inaugural female official in France’s Ligue 1, she was the central referee for Germany’s 4‑2 win over Costa Rica at the 2022 World Cup, and she previously oversaw the finals of the 2019 Women’s World Cup and the upcoming 2025 European Women’s Championship.
At UEFA, Frappart will be tasked with training and appointing match officials for the organization’s flagship tournaments, stepping into the role vacated by Czech veteran Dagmar Damková, who is leaving the federation’s refereeing roster.
She will not be alone in this endeavour; American referee Tori Penso is set to preside over her second men’s World Cup game, a development that signals a growing acceptance of women in the highest echelons of men’s football.
The move reflects a broader strategy by UEFA to cultivate diverse talent within its officiating pool, a shift that could influence how match officials are developed across the continent and inspire the next generation of women to pursue careers on the world’s biggest stages.