The Croatian Football Federation has confirmed that Martinčić will referee today the match between Gorica and Hrvatski Dragovoljac in the 8th round of the Croatian First League (HNL), reports Jutarnji List. This will make Croatia the fifth country in Europe where a woman will be the referee in the men's first division, after Germany, France, Czech Republic and Ukraine. "This is a clear example of the direction in which Croatian football is heading, in the spirit of unity, equality, and progress," said HNS.
Ivana Martinčić has been successfully working at the second league level since 2017. In 2018, she refereed the European U-19 Championship final, and in 2015 the European U-17 Championship final. In June of last year, Martinčić was the fourth official in the Hajduk - Varaždin match. Since 2017, she has refereed second division matches. Since 2019, she has been an elite international referee and is also a candidate for the 2023 Women's World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand. The head of Croatian football referees, Bruno Marić, has followed Ivana closely and thus decided to give her a chance on the biggest stage. "I think this is a historic day for Croatian refs and the HNS. Opening the first division to female referees was part of my program when I ran for the position of President of the HNS Referees Committee. We are entering the world elite in terms of referees in men's football and Ivana Martinčić is thus becoming a serious candidate for the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, held in 2023. Ivana also completed her VAR education, and I am especially proud to say that she is probably the only one in the world to run men's referee standards at the last seminar. The region we live in does not have such a referee; we are avant-garde in that respect. I am convinced that Ivana will respond to all the challenges brought by her first division debut. My great mission is to bring Ivana to the point of refereeing men's European matches, and she can certainly do that", concluded Marić.
Source: Total Croatia News