Kolkata Oct 12 (IANS) Switzerland s Esther Staubli will become the first female referee to officiate a match at the FIFA U-17 World Cup when Japan clash with New Caledonia in the final round group E match here on Saturday a statement said.
This is in line with FIFA s objective to further develop women s football.
Staubli is one of seven women referees invited to the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India where all the male and female match officials nominated by FIFA s Referees Committee have completed a host of activities together in a series of seminars including theoretical sessions in the classroom and practical sessions on the field of play.
That FIFA has selected female referees for a men s tournament is a logical consequence of an education programme that FIFA s Refereeing Department started in 2016.
The positive results and improvements seen in the joint preparations have shown that the time has come for elite female referees to officiate in men s competitions together with their male colleagues.
-IANS
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