Female referees set to make World Cup history and break officiating barrier in Qatar
This is an unprecedented event for the FIFA World Cup, a tournament that has never before seen a woman referee a match during the tournament.
In addition to them, Brazil's Neuza Back (38), Mexico's Karen Diaz Medina (37), and America's Kathryn Nesbitt (36) will serve as assistant referees.
"For several years now, they have been offering high-level performances," explained Pierluigi Collina, president of the World Cup Referees' Commission, in relation to the women chosen.
Aside from just being a positive development for women in the game, this also represents a statement of sorts from FIFA to Qatar, where civil rights, particularly women's rights, are a contentious issue.
Frappart commented, "It is a strong signal from FIFA to have female referees in Qatar. I'm not a feminist spokesperson, but if this can make things happen...."
It is also a matter of huge personal pride for the Frenchwoman, who is aware that she is a role model for a whole generation of future female referees.
"Since 2019 and the first game I officiated in the European Super Cup, the presence of female referees in the men's scene has grown. It is not a question of gender but of competence."
For Frappart the World Cup is the logical continuation of a rise through many firsts.
She was the first female referee in the French second division in 2014, then in the men's Ligue 1 in 2019, the European Super Cup in August 2019, the Champions League in December 2020, and then in the Coupe de France final last May.
Frappart is now well-established in the French and European refereeing scenes.
"I am very excited," she added, "because it was not necessarily planned. The World Cup is the pinnacle of my career."
Two years younger than the Frenchwoman, Yamashita also enjoyed a similar career in Japan, becoming the first woman to referee an Asian Champions League match in 2019.
A professional referee since just last summer, Yamashita has a background as a fitness teacher.
"Refereeing at the World Cup is a big responsibility, but I am happy to have it," Yamashita told AFP, "I could never have imagined getting here."
The first woman to referee a men's African Cup of Nations match last January, Mukansanga is the third female referee selected for the upcoming World Cup.
Mukansanga dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player before turning to refereeing but at only 20 years old she was already refereeing matches in the women's national league in Rwanda.
There was also a great deal of pride expressed among the assistants, in particular Karen Diaz Medina, who, after making her Mexican Football League debut in 2016, crowned one of her biggest dreams with the World Cup selection.
She remarked that "The fact that we women get given these important roles and realize our dreams is the fruit of our constant labour, but also of those who open doors for us for the first time."
The appointment of three female referees for the World Cup in Qatar is undoubtedly a fantastic development for women's presence in the men's game.
Here's hoping that this inspires a further generation to guarantee that that presence becomes even more pronounced in the future.
