Refs to play on
FIFA’S referees chief says cultural sensitivities will not bar female officials from taking charge of any game in Qatar.
France’s Stephanie Frappart (inset), Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda and Japanese ref Yamashita Yoshimi have all been selected for the finals, with one set to make history as the first woman ever to oversee a men’s World Cup finals match.
Iran enter the finals at a time when the rights of women in the country are in the spotlight after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. Pierluigi Collina, the chair of FIFA’s referees committee, said: “For us, they are all referees. “They are here as FIFA World Cup 2022 officials and they are ready to officiate any kind of match.
“If there are any restrictions, they are restrictions to do with neutrality.”