LONDON − Kateryna Monzul will become the first woman to referee an England men’s international when Gareth Southgate's team face Andorra in a World Cup qualifier tomorrow.
The Ukrainian will be joined by assistant referees, Maryna Striletska and Svitlana Grushko, both also from Ukraine, marking the first time an England senior men’s international will have all women referees in an all-female on-pitch officiating team at the Estadi Nacional in Andorra la Vella.
France's Stephanie Frappart − the first woman to referee a Champions League match − will be the video assistant referee, with other officiating roles filled by men.
Kateryna, 40, was part of the first all-female refereeing team to take charge of a senior men's international when she officiated in the goalless Nations League draw between San Marino and Gibraltar in November 2020.
She made history in 2016 when she became the first female referee in Ukraine to officiate a men’s top division match − a game between Chornomorets Odesa and Volyn Lutsk.
Kateryna has also officiated at four Women’s World Cups, including the 2015 final, when the United States beat Japan 5-2, and at European Championships.
In the past two years, Stephanie became the first woman to referee a men’s Champions League match, a French Ligue 1 game as well as a men’s World Cup qualifier.
She also became the first female official to be involved in men’s European Championship matches this year.
England top their six-team qualifying group for the 2022 Qatar World Cup with five wins and a draw from their first six matches, while Andorra sits fifth with three points. – Agencies, October 8, 2021
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