PARIS — After a remarkable decade at the forefront of soccer officiating, French referee Stéphanie Frappart is channeling her experience to encourage more women to enter the profession.
Frappart made history by becoming the first woman to officiate a men’s Ligue 1 match in France and later became the first woman to referee at a men’s World Cup. Now, at 41 years old, she is collaborating with La Poste, France’s national postal service, to promote female referees through a committee called “Women and Refereeing.” This initiative is part of a broader effort with the inclusion of four partner federations: soccer, rugby, handball, and basketball. The goal is to address the current imbalance in officiating numbers, where there is an estimated 80-20 split between male and female referees in France.
Frappart emphasized the need for a shift in mindset, noting that while soccer is predominantly played by men, handball displays near gender parity. “To start, we must increase the number of women participating in football, which will naturally lead to more female referees,” she explained in a recent interview. “Last season, we witnessed a 14% increase in the number of female referees compared to the previous year. Now, halfway through the current season, we already have a 5% rise in female officials.”
The French soccer federation is reportedly dedicated to enhancing female representation among referees and within the sport’s governing bodies. Nonetheless, the committee at La Poste points out that aspiring female referees are still encountering significant barriers due to persistent sexism and misogyny. “We are still facing stereotypes that are challenging to overcome, which remain ingrained in certain cultures and mentalities,” Frappart stated. She also emphasized the need for increased visibility of women in soccer and the importance of media exposure, arguing that when women’s soccer receives more airtime, perceptions will shift.
Frappart also holds the distinction of being the first woman to officiate a men’s Champions League match, a milestone she achieved in 2020. Over her extensive career, which includes officiating at the French Cup final and World Cup qualifiers, she has faced sexist remarks from spectators, although not from players or coaches. “Occasionally, I’ve dealt with some chants and comments from the stands,” she remarked.
She made her professional debut in 2014 as the first female referee for a second-tier men’s league match. Reflecting on that experience, she noted that while others were anxious, she viewed it as a natural progression in her career. “It felt like a normal step for me. I remember one director from the Brest soccer club asking if I was nervous, and I responded, ‘Well, this isn’t my first game,’” she recounted.
Frappart’s ascent continued when she officiated a Ligue 1 match between Amiens and Strasbourg five years later in 2019. Her landmark moment at the men’s World Cup came in 2022 when she refereed the match between Germany and Costa Rica. Although she recognized the buzz surrounding her appointment back in France, the context of the tournament provided a buffer from external pressures. “Being away from home, we were somewhat insulated from media scrutiny—essentially in our own bubble,” she explained.
In 2023, Frappart achieved yet another milestone by leading a trio of female referees during a Ligue 1 match, accompanied by lineswomen Manuela Nicolosi and Élodie Coppola. Just a few months later, Rebecca Welch made headlines by becoming the first female referee in the Premier League.
Looking ahead, Frappart holds an optimistic view on the growing momentum in women’s soccer. Recently, U.S. defender Naomi Girma made history as the first woman to have a million-dollar transfer when she moved from San Diego Wave to Chelsea. While this transfer pales in comparison to the men’s record of €222 million ($231 million) paid by Paris Saint-Germain for Neymar, Frappart sees it as a positive sign of progress.
“It’s important not to draw direct comparisons between women’s and men’s soccer as they operate under different economic paradigms. However, it’s encouraging to see transfers like this occur, indicating that there is both human and financial investment in women’s soccer,” she stated. “A few years ago, many players were amateurs without contracts. Today, we’re witnessing significant advancements, and it’s essential that we continue to strive for further growth.”
Frappart made history by becoming the first woman to officiate a men’s Ligue 1 match in France and later became the first woman to referee at a men’s World Cup. Now, at 41 years old, she is collaborating with La Poste, France’s national postal service, to promote female referees through a committee called “Women and Refereeing.” This initiative is part of a broader effort with the inclusion of four partner federations: soccer, rugby, handball, and basketball. The goal is to address the current imbalance in officiating numbers, where there is an estimated 80-20 split between male and female referees in France.
Frappart emphasized the need for a shift in mindset, noting that while soccer is predominantly played by men, handball displays near gender parity. “To start, we must increase the number of women participating in football, which will naturally lead to more female referees,” she explained in a recent interview. “Last season, we witnessed a 14% increase in the number of female referees compared to the previous year. Now, halfway through the current season, we already have a 5% rise in female officials.”
The French soccer federation is reportedly dedicated to enhancing female representation among referees and within the sport’s governing bodies. Nonetheless, the committee at La Poste points out that aspiring female referees are still encountering significant barriers due to persistent sexism and misogyny. “We are still facing stereotypes that are challenging to overcome, which remain ingrained in certain cultures and mentalities,” Frappart stated. She also emphasized the need for increased visibility of women in soccer and the importance of media exposure, arguing that when women’s soccer receives more airtime, perceptions will shift.
Frappart also holds the distinction of being the first woman to officiate a men’s Champions League match, a milestone she achieved in 2020. Over her extensive career, which includes officiating at the French Cup final and World Cup qualifiers, she has faced sexist remarks from spectators, although not from players or coaches. “Occasionally, I’ve dealt with some chants and comments from the stands,” she remarked.
She made her professional debut in 2014 as the first female referee for a second-tier men’s league match. Reflecting on that experience, she noted that while others were anxious, she viewed it as a natural progression in her career. “It felt like a normal step for me. I remember one director from the Brest soccer club asking if I was nervous, and I responded, ‘Well, this isn’t my first game,’” she recounted.
Frappart’s ascent continued when she officiated a Ligue 1 match between Amiens and Strasbourg five years later in 2019. Her landmark moment at the men’s World Cup came in 2022 when she refereed the match between Germany and Costa Rica. Although she recognized the buzz surrounding her appointment back in France, the context of the tournament provided a buffer from external pressures. “Being away from home, we were somewhat insulated from media scrutiny—essentially in our own bubble,” she explained.
In 2023, Frappart achieved yet another milestone by leading a trio of female referees during a Ligue 1 match, accompanied by lineswomen Manuela Nicolosi and Élodie Coppola. Just a few months later, Rebecca Welch made headlines by becoming the first female referee in the Premier League.
Looking ahead, Frappart holds an optimistic view on the growing momentum in women’s soccer. Recently, U.S. defender Naomi Girma made history as the first woman to have a million-dollar transfer when she moved from San Diego Wave to Chelsea. While this transfer pales in comparison to the men’s record of €222 million ($231 million) paid by Paris Saint-Germain for Neymar, Frappart sees it as a positive sign of progress.
“It’s important not to draw direct comparisons between women’s and men’s soccer as they operate under different economic paradigms. However, it’s encouraging to see transfers like this occur, indicating that there is both human and financial investment in women’s soccer,” she stated. “A few years ago, many players were amateurs without contracts. Today, we’re witnessing significant advancements, and it’s essential that we continue to strive for further growth.”
