Qatar 2022: for the first time there will be 6 women to referee the World Cup

This is perhaps the only positive point of this World Championship in Qatar. For the first time, women are among the referees of the men’s World Cup. They are six, of six different nationalities: Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda, Stéphanie Frappart of France, Yoshimi Yamashita of Japan and assistant referees Neuza Back from Brazil, Karen Diaz Medina from Mexico and Kathryn Nesbitt from the United States. A historic first, which we never imagined could happen in Qatar.

Six women referees of the World Cup in Qatar

“It is an honor and a privilege because this has never happened before,” said Salima Mukansanga BBC Sport Africa, this Friday 18 November. The FIFA World Cup, which kicks off this Sunday 20 November, marks the 92nd edition of this international competition. Over nearly a century, no woman had so far been chosen as arbiter. For Salima Mukansanga, this selection also represents a great responsibility. “It means you’ll be the first and you’ll open the door for other women, especially in Africa,” she said of her World Cup nomination. You carry a lot of things on your shoulders and you have to carry them correctly so that others see that the door is open and can go through it.”

Washington feminism or real progress?

Some of the six referees already have experience in the women’s world championships. In 2019, Stéphanie Frappart led the refereeing of the Women’s World Cup and Salima Mukansanga was also one of the referees for the event. The presence of these pioneers at the World Cup is undoubtedly good news, but it must be put into perspective. It’s hard not to mourn feminism wash, when we know the state of women’s rights in Qatar. As Amnesty International points out, “women and LGBTI people (are) still discriminated against, in law and in practice”. It should also be noted that the number of women referees is negligible, when it is noted that there will be only 6 women out of a total of 129 referees, including assistants. In this respect, Rwandan referee Salima Mukansanga counts on the solidarity of her counterparts. “If a woman supports another woman, of course she pays,” he said. We will work together for the success of women”. Whistle on November 20th.

Cover image: Unsplash / CFPhotosin Photography