On December 23rd, Rebecca Welch will make history as the first female referee in a Premier League match, officiating Fulham’s home game against Burnley.
Three days later Sam Allison will also make history as the first black referee to officiate in the top flight for 15 years when he steps out at Bramall Lane for Sheffield United v Luton.
Welch and Allison are part of the development team selected by Professional Game Match Officials Limited to enhance the standard of refereeing in the four highest divisions in England. This season, they have been officiating in the Championship, and Welch has also served as a fourth official in the Premier League.
Howard Webb, the chief referee officer at PGMOL, praised Rebecca and Sam for their contributions to the development group formed the previous year. He acknowledged their impressive performances in the Championship this season and commended their abilities and talent, which have earned them well-deserved opportunities.
“It is undoubtedly a positive that Rebecca is the first female to officiate in the Premier League, and that Sam is the first black referee since 2008. Their achievements will serve as a role model for under-represented communities, elevating the profile of the game.”
“We must prioritize diversity, as there is undoubtedly value in all communities. In the past, for unknown reasons, we have not successfully included individuals from these groups. Thankfully, this is now changing.”
At the age of 40, Welch has been a referee since 2010 and has achieved several significant milestones. She has overseen matches in both the Women’s Super League and Women’s Champions League, and was also selected to officiate at the 2021 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. In the men’s league, she made history by becoming the first woman to referee in the Championship in 2021 and the FA Cup in 2022. Unfortunately, she has also faced instances of abuse, as two teenagers were arrested for allegedly directing misogynistic chants towards Welch during a Championship match between Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday last month.
In 2020, Allison was included in the national roster of referees and was later elevated to the Championship level this season. When he was chosen for the position, he stated to the Guardian, “I believe I have completed my training and learning. I have reached this position and have not let anything hinder my success.”
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According to Webb, Welch and Allison have gained advantages from their participation in the development group. However, PGMOL now has additional resources to expand the pool of officials and is seeking to include a wide range of individuals. Webb stated, “We are not only considering officials within the group, but also those outside of it. People develop at different rates… Our goal is to give all high-performing individuals a chance and ultimately attract more people into refereeing from the beginning.”
Source: theguardian.com
