\n
\nTOKYO:\u00a0Japanese referee Yoshimi Yamashita knows that being one of three women picked to officiate matches at the World Cup \u2014 the first time a woman will be in charge on the game\u2019s biggest stage \u2014 is not simply about soccer.<\/p>\n
\nStephanie Frappart of France and Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda must be of the same mind. They are in a pool of 36 referees listed for Qatar \u2014 the rest are all men. FIFA has also named three female assistant referees in a pool of 69: Neuza Back of Brazil, Karen Diaz Medina of Mexico and Kathryn Nesbitt of the US.<\/p>\n
\nYamashita is aware that her selection put the focus on Japan\u2019s low ranking on most measures of equal pay for women, and in global studies of gender equality.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI would be very happy if women could play an active role in sports in this way, and if sports and especially soccer could lead this,\u201d Yamashita said in an interview with The Associated Press. \u201cIn Japan, there is still a long way to go in the world of soccer (regarding participation of women), so it would be great if this could connect to the promotion of female participation in different ways, not only in soccer or in sports.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nAll three have worked men\u2019s matches, and their World Cup debut comes in a Middle Eastern country where the role of women is closely prescribed.<\/p>\n
\nFrappart is the best known and has already worked men\u2019s games in World Cup qualifying, and the Champions League. She also handled the 2019 Women\u2019s World Cup final, and refereed this year\u2019s men\u2019s French Cup final.<\/p>\n
\nYamashita has worked games in Japan\u2019s men\u2019s league, and has also been in charge of the Asian equivalent of the men\u2019s Champions League. She was also a referee at last year\u2019s Tokyo Olympics.<\/p>\n
\nEarlier this year, Mukansanga became the first woman to referee an Africa Cup of Nations match, leading an all-female officiating team.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAs always, the criteria we have used is \u2018quality first\u2019 and the selected match officials represent the highest level of refereeing worldwide,\u201d said FIFA referees committee chairman Pierluigi Collina, who worked the 2002 World Cup final. \u201cIn this way, we clearly emphasize that it is quality that counts for us and not gender.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI would hope that in the future the selection of elite women\u2019s match officials for important men\u2019s competitions will be perceived as something normal and no longer as sensational.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nYamashita said the difference in the men\u2019s and women\u2019s game was, of course, speed. But not simply that some men might run faster.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIt\u2019s the speed, but not just the players\u2019 speed,\u201d she told the AP. \u201cNot the ball speed. It\u2019s just the game speed. It means for me I have to make quicker decisions \u2014 more speed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThen there\u2019s the stress, the largest stage, and the attention she is certain to generate at the World Cup.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cOf course, I think the pressure is huge,\u201d she said, \u201cand I think I have a lot of responsibility. But I am really happy to take this duty and pressure, so I try to take it positively and I try to be happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThough it\u2019s likely that all three will be in charge of games, it\u2019s not a given. They could also be used as \u201cfourth referees\u201d on the sideline. However, they cannot be used as assistants.<\/p>\n
\nLike many referees, Yamashita said her job was to stay out of the way and let the game shine.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cOne of the big goals as a referee is to bring out the the attractiveness of soccer,\u201d she said. \u201cI do my best for that, and I will do what I should at that time toward that end. So if I need to communicate with the players, I will do that. If I need to show a card, I will show a card. Rather than control, I\u2019m thinking about what to do toward the big goal of bringing out the appeal of soccer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nYamashita conducted most of the interview with the AP in Japanese, but said she would use English and \u201cfacial gestures, body gestures\u201d when communicating with players in Qatar.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cUsually when I give a card, I say nothing,\u201d she said, shifting to English. \u201cBut when I give a warning, I just tell them I\u2019m not happy. They understand.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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