Japanese Yoshimi Yamashita became the first professional female referee in the history of her country on Monday, a few months before officiating at the next Men’s World Cup. In May, 36-year-old Yamashita was named one of the three women who will referee at the next World Cup in November and December, also a first, along with French Stephanie Frappart and Rwandan Salima Mukansaga.
The Japanese was also the first to officiate a men’s match in the Asian Champions League last April and the first to referee a match in the men’s first division (J-League) last year. “It is good to draw attention to women. The goal is to make it a trivial day for a woman to referee a men’s match“, she added.
Japan also created its first professional women’s football league, the WE League, less than a year ago. After signing his contract with the Japan Football Federation, Yamashita devoted his first day of work to a lecture on his job in front of Japanese school children. “I was nervous but really happy to see their eyes twinkle. I had a lot of fun“, she said.
