Premier League managers have been giving their reaction to the news that Rebecca Welch will become the division’s first female referee later this month.
Welch, who has been a regular official in the Women’s Super League and officiated three games at the Women’s World Cup this summer, will make history as the Premier League’s first female referee when Fulham face Burnley on December 23.
The Premier League have also announced that Sam Allison will take charge of Sheffield United vs Luton on Boxing Day, and will become the first black referee in the division for 15 years.
During Friday’s press conferences, several Premier League managers gave their view on a breakthrough for diversity in the division.
Mikel Arteta (Arsenal): “It is great news. I wish her all the best, it will be really positive. The diversity we have is incredibly positive for the league. It is something that was needed.”
Roy Hodgson (Crystal Palace): “I think it’s positive and I think football has certainly embraced women and ethnicity an awful lot better over even just the last couple of seasons.
“We’ve seen enormous strides forward and I welcome those strides. I applaud people for bringing those strides about and I’m certain that everyone has to be a trailblazer.
“Let’s hope that the lady in question will be a trailblazer, but there’s no doubt that I’m sure she’ll have every bit as much competence as the other people she’s competing with and will be up to the people who judge refereeing performances to decide how far her career goes.
“But it shouldn’t be in any way dampened, because she happens to be a woman. Women play football, women understand football women can referee football, so why can’t they referee at the highest level?”
Mauricio Pochettino (Chelsea): “I am really happy because I think when we were in France [with PSG], Stephanie [Frappart] is a female referee and she was really really good. And why not? I think the capacity is there, I’m so happy to see it in football. I think [we should] open our minds and everyone has the quality, we have to make sure the people are about the quality”.
Pep Guardiola (Manchester City): “Excellent news. Hopefully in the future there can be more. Everybody is more involved. It is good.”
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