Costa Rica vs Germany: Stephanie Frappart hopes female referees at the World Cup can help women in Qatar
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ByEurosport
Updated 01/12/2022 at 09:34 GMT
Stephanie Frappart will become the first female referee to take charge of a men's World Cup game on Thursday. Frappart, who has refereed in the men's Champions League, Ligue 1 and World Cup qualifying, will lead an all-female refereeing team for the Group E decider between Costa Rica and Germany. She hopes refereeing at the men's World Cup can help change attitudes towards women in Qatar.
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Stephanie Frappart says the presence of female referees at the World Cup sends a positive message for women's rights in Qatar.
The Frenchwoman will become the first woman to referee at a men's World Cup when she takes charge of Costa Rica's clash with Germany on Thursday.
Brazil's Neuza Back and Mexican Karen Diaz Medina will be part of Frappart's team for the Group E clash at Al Bayt Stadium on Thursday. USA's Kathryn Nesbitt has also been called up as an assistant.
Human rights organisation Amnesty International has said women "continue to face discrimination in law and practice" in the Middle Eastern nation.
But with Rwanda's Salima Mukansanga and Japan's Yoshimi Yamashita also at the World Cup, Frappart believes the inclusion of female referees at the tournament can only be positive for influencing change in Qatar.
"We know there are some difficulties there for women," Frappart said.
"But I think and I hope that this World Cup will help them.
"I have always been made welcome [in Qatar], so there is no problem. I am not afraid to go there, but I hope this World Cup will help them in the future.
"When you are selected for the World Cup, how can we say we will not be going?
"The men's World Cup is the most important competition in the world, not only in football."
Frappart believes there is "more pressure" on female referees in the men's game, but says they are all experienced enough to handle the expectation.
"There is always pressure in the matches," she added.
"And when you are a woman there is more pressure because it is always new.
"We know the pressure. But I think we will not change ourselves - be calm, focused, concentrate. And don't think about the media and everything and be focused on the field.
"We know there is a lot of expectation, we know that each game is more important, but we also have experience in our competition.
"I made a lot of games with high importance, so with all this experience we will be ready for the matches."
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