The final barrier: Referee urges World Cup chiefs to give women biggest games
With a blow of her whistle, French referee Stephanie Frappart made history in Qatar when she became the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match.
Frappart, who is also the first woman to officiate in the Champions League and World Cup qualifiers, oversaw Germany’s group match against Costa Rica on December 1. Watching in Scotland, it felt like an important and inspirational moment for Abbie Hendry, who hopes to follow in Frappart’s footsteps and see more women officiating top-flight matches in Scotland and abroad.
With the referees and assistants still to be named for the semis and final on Sunday, she says Fifa could make even more history by choosing women to officiate in those games.
“The officials for the final games are chosen on the basis of referees’ performance in earlier games in the tournament. It has to be positive for the profile of female referees because it recognises that women are just as capable and no different to men,” said Hendry, 23, from Tayport in Fife.
“We complete the same tests and can officiate the same matches. I think it’s going to be a huge thing for women refereeing and women’s football in general.”
Frappart is among three female referees and three assistant referees to officiate at the 2022 World Cup for the first time in the tournament’s 92-year history. Along with an increase in female commentators and panellists, Hendry, a senior list referee with the Angus & Perthshire Referees’ Association, welcomes the more visible female presence at this year’s tournament.
“Things are definitely progressing to have Stephanie in the middle of the men’s World Cup, She’s forged an incredible career for herself so there’s no reason why she shouldn’t be in a top-flight match like that,” she added.
“Obviously, it would be incredible to have females in the semi-finals or even the final. I hope that will come. We’re playing the long game.”
Starting at 16, Hendry became a senior-list category three referee earlier this year. She has refereed the men’s Highland and Lowland league and Women’s Premiership and acted as assistant referee on Scottish Championship and League One and Two matches.
She also ran the line at Women’s World Cup qualifying matches in Italy and Albania, acting as fourth official to Scottish category one ref Lorraine Watson.
She added: “Where football was predominantly very much male-focused, now I can referee a game and no one bats an eyelid because I’m in the game more. For men it’s not a big deal to have a female referee and they do respect us.”
Hendry, who also works as a sports massage therapist and fitness instructor, says refereeing has built up her confidence to deal with mid-match confrontations.
“Unfortunately in football you do get a lot of disagreement but I use my personality well,” she said. “I’m bubbly and outgoing so I think that makes me more approachable but the biggest thing is how you communicate with and manage the players.
“If you back down, you’re putting yourself in a vulnerable position. There have been times where I’ve felt that way but don’t want to show that so I always try to use my personality to de-escalate a situation. I’ve become more mentally tough and try to take it all in my stride.”
Hendry was inspired by being pitchside to watch her mum, Kelly Kyle, referee junior matches on a Saturday morning. She sees Watson, the first woman to referee a senior men’s game in Scottish football, who has been in charge at the Women’s European Championship as well as men’s matches in the Scottish Cup and League Two, as a role model.
“To referee a World Cup match like Stephanie is the dream but I’d also love to follow in Lorraine Watson’s footsteps and make category one, so getting to the Scottish Premiership and become FIFA-listed.”
Already a mentor for aspiring female referees, Hendry supports a campaign launched by the Scottish Women’s Football Association in October to encourage women and girls to join the cause.
“We’re crying out for more female referees,” she said. “The Scottish Football Association have supported me immensely and there’s great support within my association.
“We now have women-only training sessions and more funding for recruitment this year. The support mechanisms are in place, we just need more females involved and hopefully this will inspire them.”