The first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match, the Frenchman delivered a perfect performance during Germany’s success in Costa Rica (4-2).
This December 1, 2022 will go down in football history. For the first time, a match in a men’s World Cup was led by a woman. A Frenchwoman, born in the Val d’Oise, in Herblay-sur-Seine, who very quickly gave up the ball for the whistle. The very definition of vocation. The day after the oh so confused end of the match between France and Tunisia, due to an obvious lack of communication between the referee, New Zealander Matthew Conger, and his VAR assistants, following the equalizer of Antoine Griezmann in the 98th minute of play, Stéphanie Frappart was expected at the turn by all the machos and defenders of the patriarchy of this world. Who will not have much to say this Thursday evening when replaying the match between Germany and Costa Rica, as the performance of the French was devoid of any error or criticism.
The Frenchwoman could hardly have dreamed of a better start to the match in order to calmly enter “her” first World Cup. Between Germans monopolizing the ball and Costa Ricans defending very low and without real intensity, Stéphanie Frappart did not need to report the slightest fault until the 7th minute and a small skirmish by Jamal Musiala in the laundry. For the rest, nothing to report, except two corners and an offside falling more under the responsibility of his assistants, since the whole trio was female this Thursday in the Al-Bayt stadium in Al-Khor. Quite a symbol in a country, Qatar, hardly known for being at the forefront of progress in terms of women’s rights…
A new “first” to his credit
But far from these political considerations – even if she was not unaware of the scope -, Stéphanie Frappart continued her match. Or more exactly unfolded it until the break, without the slightest difficulty, or challenge, or intervention of the VAR. Well helped it is true by the 22 other players in the meeting, hardly belligerent. And at 38, the one who started playing football between the ages of 10 and 13 in Herblay-sur-Seine before changing paths to become a referee does not lack experience. The first woman to officiate in a Ligue 1, Coupe de France or Champions League match, she took the time to grow and impose herself in a world obviously tinged with machismo. But that it helps to develop through the quality of its services.
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As was the case during a completely crazy second period, but during which she always knew how to make the right decision. Including during the 4th German goal where she seemed to have a problem with her headset, therefore connecting with her VAR assistants. This did not prevent him from maintaining an Olympian calm. And to validate, rightly, the realization of Niclas Füllkrug. A clear round that should allow the French to be named for another match, this time in the knockout phase.