{"id":292606,"date":"2023-10-31T12:40:03","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T12:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=292606"},"modified":"2023-10-31T12:40:03","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T12:40:03","slug":"female-referee-named-fourth-official-for-premier-league-match-for-first-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/soccer\/female-referee-named-fourth-official-for-premier-league-match-for-first-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Female referee named fourth official for Premier League match for first time"},"content":{"rendered":"
Rebecca Welch has become the first ever female fourth official to be appointed for a Premier League match. <\/p>\n
It is the latest huge feat for the trail-blazing referee who has already operated as a linesman in the most watched division in football. Welch was also the first ever woman to take charge of an EFL match, when she called the shots in Port Vale\u2019s 2-0 victory over Harrogate in 2021.<\/p>\n
She will be working alongside referee John Brooke and assistants Lee Betts and Matthew Wilkes, while Jarred Gillett will be operating VAR. Welch\u2019s appointment for the clash between Fulham and Manchester United represents another huge step in the right direction. <\/p>\n
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She will certainly have her hands full at Craven Cottage. Welch will have to act as mediator between Marco Silva and under-fire United boss Erik ten Hag.<\/p>\n
In March, Silva was given a red card and sent to the changing rooms at Old Trafford, after losing his temper when Aleksandar Mitrovic and Willian were both sent off in their FA Cup quarter-final clash.<\/p>\n
What is your reaction to Rebecca Welch's appointment as fourth official? Let us know in the comments section below<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
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\u00a339.99 (PS5), \u00a340.49 (PC)<\/p>\n
Welch\u2019s ascent is one of football\u2019s feel good stories. She became a referee in 2010, but continued to work for the NHS up until 2019, when she decided to focus her attention on officiating full-time.<\/p>\n
Welch has also officiated the 2017 and 2020 Women\u2019s FA Cup finals and has been added to UEFA\u2019s elite women\u2019s list, where she went on to referee in the 2023 Women\u2019s World Cup. However, this is arguably the most important feat for women\u2019s referees in the UK since she was chosen to referee in League Two. <\/p>\n
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In a 2021 interview with the EFL, when asked about the day she found out she would be overseeing Port Vale vs Harrogate, she said: \u201cIt was a shock. I was on my way back from a game and I got a phone call from Mike Jones (PGMOL National Group Director) and my initial response was 'oh, what\u2019ve I done!'<\/p>\n
"But I\u2019m really excited and this what I\u2019ve been working towards and to be given this opportunity to work in the EFL is amazing for me. This is the biggest achievement of my career. I\u2019ve refereed at Wembley in the 2017 women\u2019s FA Cup Final, which will always be a top highlight. But it\u2019s good to achieve things and refereeing in the EFL on Monday will be the greatest so far.\u201d<\/p>\n