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The match officials have now been confirmed for the Women’s Super League match between Chelsea and Arsenal at a packed-out Stamford Bridge on Friday 15th March (19:00).
Referee: Rebecca Welch.
Assistant Referee: Harley Hetherington.
Assistant Referee: Matt Joyce.
Fourth official: Abi Byrne.
Rebecca Welch became a football referee in 2010 but remained in her post with the NHS until 2019, at which point she turned her attention to officiating on a full-time basis.
In 2021 she became the first woman to be appointed to referee a match in the English Football League when she took charge of the League Two fixture between Harrogate Town and Port Vale. She brandished just two yellow cards in her first League match and was promoted to the National Group the following season.
During her career, she has also officiated at games in the Women’s Super League and was the referee at the 2017 and 2020 Women’s FA Cup Finals. In December 2020 Welch was added to UEFA’s elite women’s list, joining other female football officials to referee at international games, including the Women’s World Cup in 2023.
Prior to the start of the current season, Rebecca Welch was promoted to the Select Group 2 (Championship), meaning she now primarily referees matches in the Championship, with some League One and Two matches thrown in.
On 23rd December 2023, Welch became the first woman to referee in the Premier League, officiating in the fixture between Fulham and Burnley (0-2). She showed 3 yellow cards in this match. She was also chosen to oversee the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest at the start of February, showing 5 yellow cards and 1 red card.
Sources: efl.com & Soccerbase
