For the first time in the history of professional men's soccer, a woman will direct the final between Liverpool and Chelsea in Istanbul and will be assisted by Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle O'Neal.
UEFA opens new horizons by designing Stéphanie Frappart to arbitrate the August 14 UEFA Super Cup meeting. It will be the first time that a woman will direct a UEFA men's final, a race that opens the curtain on the new season by opposing the winners of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League at Istanbul's Beşiktaş Park.
In July, the French race director had the honor of refereeing the women's FIFA World Cup final between the United States and Holland in Lyon. Frappart also directed the UEFA Women's EURO 2017 semi-final between the Netherlands and England.
Frappart will lead a team composed mainly of women. In fact, she will be assisted by assistants Manuela Nicolosi (France) and Michelle O'Neal (Republic of Ireland) who, like her, have refereed the final of the 7 women's world cup in July. The fourth referee will be Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey).
In France, Frappart entered history becoming the first woman to referee a Ligue 1 game, the one between SC Amiens and RC Strasbourg in April. In June it was announced that the race director (from Val-d'Oise) would be permanently included among the Ligue 1 colleagues for the 2019 / 20 season.
As for the Women's World Cup final, Frappart will be joined by assistants Manuela Nicolosi (France) and Michelle O'Neal (Republic of Ireland). The fourth referee will be Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey), who led the VAR team to the final of the Women's World Cup.
"I have said on several occasions that the potential of women's football is endless. I am thrilled that Stéphanie Frappart was chosen to referee this year's UEFA Super Cup competition with assistants Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle O'Neal," said the president UEFA Aleksander Čeferin.
"Our organization attaches the utmost importance to the development of women's football in all areas. I hope that the qualities and devotion that Stéphanie has shown throughout her career, up to this level, inspire millions of girls and women across Europe and show that there must be no obstacles to achieving their dreams ".
The UEFA designator Roberto Rosetti praised Frappart's refereeing skills, adding that he "fully deserves" the opportunity to conduct such a high profile meeting.
"Stéphanie has shown for years that she is one of the best women in arbitration, not only in Europe but throughout the world," said Rosetti.
"He has the skills to referee at the highest levels, as he demonstrated this year in the World Cup final. I hope the match in Istanbul will allow you to gain even more experience in this important stage of your career."
Frappart (35 years) is not the first woman designated to arbitrate a competition in UEFA men's competitions. This honor goes to Nicole Petignat, who between the 2004 and the 2009 has conducted three UEFA Cup qualifying matches.
The VAR (Video Assistant Referees) will be used for the UEFA Super Cup match between Liverpool and Chelsea. The operations will be managed by Clement Turpin (France), supported by François Letexier (France), Mark Borsch (Germany) and Massimiliano Irrati (Italy).
Official release of uefa.com
