女性主審がプレミア初担当　コンパニー監督も称賛「画期的」

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】２３日に行われたサッカーイングランド・プレミアリーグのフラム対バーンリーＦＣ戦で、レベッカ・ウェルシュ氏（４０）が女性ではプレミア史上初めて、主審として試合を裁いた。バーンリーのヴィンセント・コンパニー監督も、「画期的な出来事」だと称賛した。（写真は、２３－２４イングランド・プレミアリーグ第１８節、フラム対バーンリーＦＣ。試合を裁くレベッカ・ウェルシュ主審）
　ウェルシュ氏は、国民保健サービスで働いていた２０１０年からサッカー審判としての仕事を始めると、そこから等級を上げて２０２１年、４部のハロゲート・タウン対ポート・ベイル戦で、女性としてはイングリッシュ・フットボールリーグ史上初めて主審に任命された。
　その後はチャンピオンシップ（２部）やＦＡカップの３回戦でも初の女性主審となり、１１月のフラム対マンチェスター・ユナイテッド戦で女性として初めてプレミアの第４審を務めた。女子サッカーでも、今夏のＷ杯など知名度の高い試合を何度か担当している。
　この日は開始前の審判紹介で客席から喝采を浴びると、判定に対する選手の反応にも動揺せず、できる限り積極的にアドバンテージを取り、最後まで落ち着きと権威を保って堅実なプレミアデビューを果たした。
　バーンリーのコンパニー監督はウェルシュ主審について、「彼女を祝福したい。大きな瞬間だ」と称賛。「画期的な出来事だし、今後も続くことを願う」と話し、「一番いいのは実力に基づいて評価されるようになること。それでもどんな物事にも初があり、今回がそうなのだから、ねぎらいたいし、自分もその瞬間に関わることができてうれしい」と述べた。
　試合はウィルソン・オドベールとサンデル・ベルゲのミドルシュートでアウェーのバーンリーが２－０の勝利を収めた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/12/25-16:51）

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany congratulated Rebecca Welch for a milestone achievement after she became the first woman to referee an English Premier League football match by taking charge of the Clarets' 2-0 win at Fulham 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.
Kompany, who spoke to Welch after full-time at Craven Cottage, said: I wanted to congratulate her because it's a big moment.
After the game it's fair to say that it's a milestone moment and may there be more, and the best thing will always be when someone is judged on merit.
But you have to have a first and this is it, so well done (to her) and I'm happy to be part of this moment.
Welch had little to do early on during a slow start in London on Saturday before her 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 in which long-range strikes from Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge gave Burnley only their third league win of the season.
She booked Calvin Bassey after 25 minutes for striking Josh Brownhill. The Fulham defender refused to walk towards 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 kick-off.
But Fulham fans became increasingly annoyed as Welch's first few decisions went in favour of the visitors and they cheered sarcastically when the hosts were awarded a foul in midfield.
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.
Welch 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 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.