LONDON: Rebecca Welch became the first woman to referee an English Premier League football match when she oversaw Burnley’s 2-0 win away to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Welch, a 40-year-old from Washington in northeast England, was working for the National Health Service when she began her refereeing career in 2010.
She rose through the officiating ranks and, in 2021, became the first woman appointed to referee a match in the English Football League when she took charge of the fourth-tier fixture between Harrogate and Port Vale.
Welch was also the first female official to referee matches in the Championship and third round of the FA Cup.
She had little to do early on during a slow start to proceedings in London on Saturday before Welch’s decision to not award a Vitinho handball frustrated Fulham.
Welch remained unmoved by players’ reactions when making her rulings and was happy to play advantage for both sides whenever possible in a match where long-range strikes from Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge gave Burnley their first win since December 2.
She booked Calvin Bassey after 25 minutes for striking Josh Brownhill. The Fulham defender refused to walk toward Welch when signalled by her on three occasions but eventually approached the referee and was cautioned.
Welch’s name was greeted by cheers when read out by the public address announcer at Craven Cottage ahead of kickoff.
But Fulham fans became increasingly annoyed as Welch’s first few decisions went in favor of the visitors and they cheered sarcastically cheers when the hosts were awarded a foul in midfield.
But it was hard to argue with Welch’s decisions until that point, although whistles and chants of “don’t know what you are doing” rang round the ground after she waved off Harry Wilson’s appeals just inside the visitors’ half — although this was the sort of comment any referee might expect in the same situation.
Welch, however, maintained her composure and authority throughout an assured Premier League debut.
Last month, Welch became the first woman to act as fourth official in a Premier League game as part of the officiating team for Fulham’s match against Manchester United.
Welch has also taken charge of several high-profile women’s fixtures, including games at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Welch becomes first female referee in English Premier League
https://arab.news/w3jny
Welch becomes first female referee in English Premier League
- Welch, a 40-year-old from Washington in northeast England, was working for the National Health Service when she began her refereeing career in 2010
- She was also the first female official to referee matches in the Championship and third round of the FA Cup
Salah sets up goal on return to Liverpool action
- Salah came off the substitutes’ bench to huge cheers in the 26th minute
- Liverpool doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Ekitike scored his second, nodding home Salah’s corner
LIVERPOOL: Mohamed Salah set up a goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Brighton on Saturday as he returned to action after an explosive outburst cast doubt over his future at the Premier League champions.
The Egypt forward, the subject of intense scrutiny in the build-up to the game at Anfield, came off the substitutes’ bench to huge cheers in the 26th minute, replacing injured defender Joe Gomez.
The home team, whose title defense has collapsed after a shocking run of results, were leading 1-0 at the time, with France forward Hugo Ekitike on the scoresheet after just 46 seconds.
Brighton squandered a number of opportunities to level and Ekitike scored again with half an hour to go to give Liverpool breathing space.
Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” after he was left on the bench for last week’s 3-3 draw at Leeds — the third match in a row that he had been named among the replacements.
He also said that he had no relationship with manager Arne Slot.
Salah was omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0, posting a picture on social media of himself alone in the gym.
Slot said at Friday’s pre-match press conference that he would speak to the forward later in the day, adding: “I have no reasons (in) not wanting him to stay.”
There was feverish speculation in the build-up to Saturday’s match about what role Salah would play, with the winger named on the bench.
Liverpool, who had won just two of 10 Premier League matches before the Brighton game, made a lightning start, taking the lead in the first minute when Joe Gomez set up Ekitike, who thumped the ball past Bart Verbruggen.
Salah entered the fray about 20 minutes before half-time when Gomez was withdrawn.
Brighton’s Diego Gomez squandered a good chance to level early in the second half, striking the ball against the outside of a post, and Brajan Gruda also went close as the home crowd chanted Salah’s name.
Liverpool doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Ekitike scored his second, nodding home Salah’s corner.
Salah himself went close in stoppage time after he was set up by Federico Chiesa but he blazed over.
The win lifts Slot’s men to sixth in the table ahead of the later kick-offs on Saturday, easing the pressure on the beleaguered manager.
- Salah departure -
Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, is about to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt go in the competition in Morocco, with the final taking place on January 18.
The forward, who has been linked with a move to the lucrative Saudi Pro League, had invited his family to the Brighton game as speculation swirled over his future.
“I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the Africa Cup,” he told reporters last week. “I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.”
Salah, third in Liverpool’s all-time scoring charts with 250 goals, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League crown during his spell on Merseyside.
He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool romped to a 20th English league title, but has managed just four league goals this season.
