STEPHANIE FRAPPART will take charge of England’s friendly with Australia on Friday to become the first woman to referee a men’s international at Wembley.
The French official, who started in Ligue 2, refereed games at last year’s World Cup.
She was also the first woman to referee a European final when Chelsea played Liverpool in a Uefa Super Cup clash in Istanbul in 2019.
Peter Elsworth, the FA’s head of refereeing operations, said: “Stephanie is an outstanding referee and she has officiated on the highest stage within France, across Europe and recently at the men’s and women’s Fifa World Cup.
“We’re delighted she and her team will take charge of our upcoming fixture against Australia in front of a sold-out crowd at Wembley Stadium and we’re looking forward to welcoming them to the home of English football.”
After officiating the 2019 Super Cup between Chelsea and Liverpool Frappart told CNN: “It was a pretty special feeling when you walked out in the stadium and the crowd were actually cheering for us, I’ve never experienced that and in such a big, big match.
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“In the warm-up I looked around and I was like, the other teams aren’t here so they have to be cheering for us.
“When you looked up at the crowd, I normally don’t engage with the crowd, they were looking at us and a few were waving and giving us thumbs up and congratulations.
“I thought that was pretty special.”
England face the Aussies in a friendly with Gareth Southgate set to give run-outs to the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Levi Colwill.
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Arsenal star Bukayo Saka will also join up with the squad despite his ongoing injury struggles, according to reports.
The Three Lions then entertain Italy in a Euro 2024 qualifier four days later.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
