This Saturday, December 23 will go down in Premier League history. Rebecca Welch became the first woman to referee a Premier League match. It was she who led the meeting between Fulham and Burnley, at Craven Cottage, for the 18th day of the Championship. The 40-year-old Englishwoman had already officiated, but as fourth referee, during the match between Fulham and Manchester United (0-1), last November.
In 2021, she became the first woman to referee an EFL (English Football League) match, officiating the Fourth Division match between Harrogate and Port Vale. Since then, she has officiated in the Championship (second division), the FA Cup and during the Women’s World Cup last summer.