THE BUNDESLIGA WILL appoint its first ever female referee this weekend, as Bibiana Steinhaus takes charge of a game on Sunday.
The 38-year-old former police officer will referee the clash between Hertha BSC and SV Werder Bremen in Berlin, making her the first female referee in the top flight of Germany, England, Spain, France or Italy.
Steinhaus previously officiated at the Women’s World Cup and Champions League finals, and has also been a referee in the German second tier since 2007.
She has however, encountered problems on the pitch in the past.
She shrugged off Pep Guardiola’s attempt to put his arm around her shoulders when the then-Bayern coach remonstrated with her on the touchlines in 2014.
And in 2015, Steinhaus sent off Hoffenheim’s Kerem Demirbay, then playing for Fortuna Duesseldorf, who told her women had no place in football.
But speaking to the Deutsche Fussball-Bund (DFB) official website, Steinhaus says she is eager to take on this new challenge.
“Of course, I’m really looking forward to my first match in the Bundesliga. I’m delighted that my team and I will finally be able to take on this challenge on Sunday. We’re certainly very well prepared.”
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