The Asian Football Confederation announced Tuesday that for the first time an all-female referee team will take charge of a men’s continental club cup clash.
Japanese referee Yoshimi Yamashita and assistants MakotoBozono and Naomi Teshirogi will officiate the AFC Cup match between Myanmar’sYangon United and Cambodia’s Naga World at the Thuwunna Stadium on Wednesday.
“This will be the first time three female refereespreside in the Asian Football Confederation’s club competitions, marking a newmilestone in Asian refereeing,” the AFC said in a statement.
The AFC Cup is the second-string Asian club competition, arung below the AFC Champions League.
Women officals have only previously been employed asassistant referees in AFC Cup matches, with Australians Sarah Ho and AlyssonFlynn becoming the first in 2014.
“This is one of my dreams,” said the experiencedYamashita, who officiated in the 2016 and 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and2018 Women’s Asian Cup.
“We’ve worked very hard and this is the result.”
Assistant referee Teshirogi said her appointment willinspire female referees in Asia while Bozono said the experience will help inher preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in June, where the trio will beamong 12 officials from the AFC.”It is exciting to work with Yoshimi andNaomi. They are very experienced and have been very supportive. I will learn alot from them,” Bozono said.