UEFA back ‘mentally strong’ female ref

ROBERTO ROSSETTI, UEFA’s head of refereeing, has robustly defended the decision to appoint Stephanie Frappart to officiate the European Super Cup final and insisted there is no risk. Frappart is the top official in the women’s game and took charge of the World Cup final in July. She broke new ground when refereeing a Ligue 1 match in France in April but the Frenchwoman’s ability to handle a men’s game of such prestige has attracted scrutiny. It is not a debate about gender. Frappart passed the stringent physical examination UEFA implement for all male officials and there are no questions over her athletic capabilities to keep up with the pace of the clash between Liverpool and Chelsea. The question comes about whether she has enough experience to be awarded this responsibility but Rossetti made it clear that there are no concerns about Frappert or her assistants, compatriot Manuela Nicolosi and Ireland’s Michelle O’Neill. ‘Mentally she is very strong, she’s ready for this match,’ said Rossetti. ‘It’s not a matter of gender. Everybody can make mistakes. I’m confident she’ll do well. They are ready.’ And Frappart (below) shows no signs of buckling under the pressure of the occassion. ‘I was appointed as a referee in Ligue 1 in France, so I know the feeling, the strategy and I know my emotions. I know how to keep (them in check). Only teams play differently, refereeing is the same, football is the same. Nothing changes in me, I

am not afraid.’