Sapir Berman to officiate Women\u2019s Under-17 Euro qualifier between Northern Ireland and Montenegro
\n Belfast
\nA transgender referee will make history on Monday by taking charge of an international football match, a landmark moment approached with \u201cimmense pride\u201d and \u201cdeep humility\u201d to advance the cause of the Transgender community.
\nAccording to UEFA, when 30-year-old Sapir Berman officiates the Women\u2019s Under-17 Euro qualifier between Northern Ireland and Montenegro in Belfast, it will be a first for European football.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s an overwhelming feeling \u2014 immense pride, indescribable excitement \u2014 but more than anything, it\u2019s an opportunity to continue doing what I love, in the world that shaped me and where I grew up,\u201d the 14-year refereeing veteran told AFP in a statement.
\n\u201cI step into this moment with deep humility and excitement, hoping to do my very best, to represent my country, to stand for my sisters in the transgender community, and to show that every dream is possible.\u201d
\nBerman said the breakthrough moment is also deeply symbolic for the teenage girls who will be playing this week.
\n\u201cWhen young players see diversity on the field, it helps make inclusion normal, and it sends a strong message that what matters is talent and commitment,\u201d the referee added.
\nEngland\u2019s Lucy Clark became the first transgender woman in the world to referee a match in 2018, in the semi-professional English league, but has never officiated internationally.
\nBerman has been refereeing matches in the for 14 years.
\nSince 2021, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed federations to establish their criteria to avoid potential \u201cdisproportionate advantages\u201d for transgender athletes.
\nWorld Rugby has excluded transgender players from women\u00b4s competitions due to the \u201cexcessive risk of injury\u201d in the contact sport.
\nThe International Shooting Federation, meanwhile, has concluded that there was \u201cno advantage\u201d linked to male hormones in competitions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sapir Berman to officiate Women\u2019s Under-17 Euro qualifier between Northern Ireland and Montenegro Belfast A transgender referee will make history on Monday by taking charge of an international football match, a landmark moment approached with \u201cimmense pride\u201d and \u201cdeep humility\u201d to advance the cause of the Transgender community. According to UEFA, when 30-year-old Sapir Berman […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":467692,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-467688","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n