Stéphanie Frappart steps into a new role at UEFA
Stéphanie Frappart, the French official who made history by becoming the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match, has taken on a new responsibility within European football’s governing body.
UEFA announced that she will serve as a full‑time refereeing officer, a role in which she will train match officials and appoint them to competitions across the continent, succeeding the retiring Czech referee Dagmar Damková.
Her appointment marks a continuation of a trailblazing career that includes officiating the 2022 World Cup group‑stage game between Germany and Costa Rica, becoming the first woman to control a Ligue 1 fixture, and overseeing finals of both the 2019 Women’s World Cup and the upcoming 2025 Women’s European Championship.
She will work alongside a roster of officials that includes American referee Tori Penso, who recently took charge of her second men’s World Cup match, highlighting the growing diversity among the tournament’s arbiters.
The move is seen as a strategic step for UEFA to reinforce the development of women in high‑profile officiating roles, a shift that aligns with broader efforts to promote gender equality in sport.