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UEFA head of referees Pierluigi Collina: 'It doesn't matter if the referee is a man or a woman'
The ex-Serie A referee made the comments regarding football's glass ceiling in regards to a question about Japan's first female official to participate in a men's game
Jan 17, 2012 8:45:00 AM
By Dan Orlowitz
Legendary former referee Pierluigi Collina indicated that Europe's top leagues - or even an international competition such as the World Cup - could one day see a female referee in charge of a match in the men's game.
Collina made the comments during an interview with Witness History, a series of interviews on Facebook that are part of the build-up to the UEFA Champions League final.
"I think that a referee should be assessed because of his quality and the performances he or she delivers," he said in response to a question regarding future roles for women in football officiating.
"It doesn't matter if the referee is a man or a woman."
The question made reference to Japan's Fusako Kajiyama, who last November became the first woman to officiate a match in the country's J-League. Kajiyama, who in July acquired the first-class officiating license required to referee a J-League match, was the fourth official in a second-division clash between FC Gifu and Kataller Toyama.
"I wouldn't give myself a very high score," the 34-year-old told Asahi at the time.
"I'm not used to being a fourth official, and to be honest I think being the main referee would have been less nerve-racking."
In addition to working at a soccer school run by J2 side Kyoto Sanga, Kajiyama officiates in the country's Nadeshiko League and has also participated in Australia's W-League, with hopes of one day officiating matches at the Olympics or the Women's World Cup.
But as Collina pointed out, there is still a long road ahead for women who wish to participate in football at the highest level.
"At the moment there are very few women in male professional football," he noted. "And most of them are assistant referees."
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Collina made the comments during an interview with Witness History, a series of interviews on Facebook that are part of the build-up to the UEFA Champions League final.
"I think that a referee should be assessed because of his quality and the performances he or she delivers," he said in response to a question regarding future roles for women in football officiating.
"It doesn't matter if the referee is a man or a woman."
The question made reference to Japan's Fusako Kajiyama, who last November became the first woman to officiate a match in the country's J-League. Kajiyama, who in July acquired the first-class officiating license required to referee a J-League match, was the fourth official in a second-division clash between FC Gifu and Kataller Toyama.
"I wouldn't give myself a very high score," the 34-year-old told Asahi at the time.
"I'm not used to being a fourth official, and to be honest I think being the main referee would have been less nerve-racking."
In addition to working at a soccer school run by J2 side Kyoto Sanga, Kajiyama officiates in the country's Nadeshiko League and has also participated in Australia's W-League, with hopes of one day officiating matches at the Olympics or the Women's World Cup.
But as Collina pointed out, there is still a long road ahead for women who wish to participate in football at the highest level.
"At the moment there are very few women in male professional football," he noted. "And most of them are assistant referees."
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