Ligue 1 appoints first ever female referee

French official Stephanie Frappart will make history on Sunday as the first woman to referee a match in France’s Ligue 1.

Frappart has been selected by the French Football Federation to prepare her for the Women’s World Cup this summer. Ligue 1 is the equivalent of the English Premier League.

It’s not the first time the 35-year-old has made history. Back in 2014 she was the first woman to take charge in Ligue 2.

The Women’s World Cup which will begin in France on 7 June will be Frappart’s second, having already served at the 2015 event in Canada.

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The FFF released a statement saying the move was to prepare them “under the best conditions” for the biggest event in Women’s football.

"Their preparation, technical and athletic [ability] will also be focused on the use of video assistance, which will be in function at this World Cup."

Frappart was the referee for England’s 3-0 semi-final defeat by the Netherlands at the 2017 Women’s European Championships.

Although the first women to officiate in the top tier of French football, she isn’t the first in Europe.

Bibiana Steinhaus was the first, when she refereed a Bundesliga match in 2017 between Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen.

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