Canadian referees eager to take field in home World Cup
The inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991 featured six female referees or assistant referees, a first for FIFA, “in keeping with the true spirit of the celebration.”
Eight years later, soccer’s world governing body made the decision to go with all female officials at the women’s showcase. Today it’s a given. Former Canadian team coach Sylvie Beliveau calls it a “fabulous story.” Beliveau, who coached Canada at the 1995 World Cup, has been part of FIFA’s technical study group since 1999 and has watched the integration of female officials from Day 1.
“In 1999, after FIFA made the decision to have female officials only, the coaches I interviewed all said ‘I’m afraid about refereeing. It’s not at the (right) level.’” she recalled. “There was no issue actually. But it was a fear initially when FIFA made that decision.
“But they maintained it, which meant there was true development all the way down the chain, to have women prepared for the final phases of every World Cup. It’s not even a question any more.
“Are we questioning calls for referees? Yes. Are we doing it on the men’s side? Yes.”
FIFA announced a list of 29 tournament referees and 44 assistant referees for this World Cup. The referees’ list will be trimmed to 22 after a Vancouver camp on the eve of the tournament, with seven of the refs to be designated support officials.
Canadian referees are Ottawa’s Carol Anne Chénard, a former short-track speedskater who once held the world record in the 3,000 metres, and Michelle Pye of Kamloops, B.C.
They will be joined by assistant referees Marie-Josée Charbonneau of Mascouche, Que., and Suzanne Morisset of Beauport, Que.
The officials’ list represents 49 countries.
The 24-country World Cup runs Saturday to July 5 in Moncton, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver.
Massimo Busacca, head of FIFA’s Refereeing Department, is happy to talk about the female officials he supervises.
“They are really good quality,” he said.
The 46-year-old Busacca’s refereeing career spanned more than 20 years, including 12 internationally. The Swiss native officiated at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, Euro 2008 and was in charge of the 2009 Champions League final, 2007 UEFA Cup final and 2010 UEFA Super Cup.
When the tournament starts, the officials will be split between Vancouver and Montreal for geographical reasons.
Officials will be assigned on merit in the knockout rounds.
“It’s like a football team ... the coach is giving games (to players) only based on their skills, their qualities, not looking at other details. We want to do the same,” said Busacca.
Being second-guessed is part of the job.
“I absolutely enjoy it or else I wouldn’t put myself through it,” Chénard said after the officials list was released.
“What I learned very early on is that pressure and stress is kind of part of the deal if you’re going to go to a World Cup and be a referee. So it’s just how you deal with it.”
As in the men’s World Cup in Brazil, the officials will be helped by goal-line technology.
“I pushed for that, I have to be honest,” said Busacca.
Chénard was the lone Canadian referee at the 2011 World Cup in Germany, taking charge of both a quarter-final and a semifinal. She was also the only Canadian referee at the 2012 Olympics, where her assignments included Britain versus Brazil before a crowd of 70,584 at Wembley Stadium.
“Really spectacular,” was Chénard’s memory of that day.
Charbonneau also officiated at the London Games.
Chénard was in charge of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup goldmedal game in Germany in 2010 and the semifinal at the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.