FIFA assistant referee Mayte Chavez was awarded the 2021 National Sports Award of Mexico, being the first woman of this discipline to achieve it. The National Sports Award is a distinction granted by the Mexican federal government through the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sports (CONADE) of the Ministry of Public Education awarded to athletes, coaches or referees who have excelled in the field of sports.
Chavez has been a professional assistant referee for 21 years and 18 years as a FIFA assistant referee. She is one of the few women that participates in the Men's MX League and the Women's MX League. “Professionally, I was fortunate to go to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, so not only because I went to Tokyo, but also because it was the fourth Olympic Games of my career and many international matches, approximately 100. I have over 700 games in total at the professional level”, she said. “How long your career last depends on the physical condition of your legs. I also became a mother, with a beautiful 3-year-old girl. Right now I am in the process of recovery after an anterior cruciate ligament injury. I had surgery 4 months ago and I already started my recovery with physiotherapy. I started to jog and I hope to be back on the field between February and March 2022. Looking at the international competitions, I see that there are quite a few next year, including the 2023 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and possibly that is where I would be thinking about my retirement, which would be an honorable end of my career”, said Mayte Chavez.
International Competitions
Olympic Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020
FIFA Women’s World Cup: Germany 2011, Canada 2015, France 2019
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: Germany 2010, Canada 2014
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: New Zealand 2008, Trinidad & Tobago 2010, Uruguay 2018
Pan-American Games: Guadalajara 2011.
Source : La Jornada
