"Being a female referee has undergone exponential change," says Spaniard Marta Huerta de Aza, officiating at a Women’s EURO for the second time. "I’ve been a referee for 20 years and since I started, there has been a really significant change. Taking Spain as an example – dedicating yourself professionally to being a referee as your only job was unthinkable years ago," she adds. The standards of female referees have only increased as a result, explains Huerta de Aza. "There are really positive advances in the refereeing profession. To be at a Women's EURO again, three years on, is even more difficult, because the female referees we have in Europe, in my personal opinion, are the best in the world – they demonstrate it in each international competition." New levels of preparedness are one of the ways in which the game is progressing, with UEFA helping to ensure that each member of the 13-strong Women’s EURO 2025 referee team was ready to hit the ground running. Physical and mental preparation are very important for a referee," says Huerta de Aza. "UEFA supports us with that, so we have a tailored plan to guarantee that we can be in optimal shape to take part in this tournament."
The referees were put through their paces in the lead-up to the tournament in UEFA training sessions. Notably, each has passed the same fitness tests as the elite male referees. "It’s quite a long preparation," said Stéphanie Frappart, one of the game’s leading referees. "We’ve been working on [fitness] for several months now, with remote training sessions supported by a fitness coach."
Perhaps naturally, as the pool of women’s referees has developed, perceptions of the role have changed, too. "It’s very different to how it was when I was 13 years old and started refereeing," says Swedish referee Tess Olofsson, also refereeing her second Women’s EURO. "Back then, we didn’t have many female referees or role models," says Olofsson. "Suddenly, women’s football has really developed, both in terms of refereeing and playing. It is fantastic to see that there are so many professional female referees out there who can make a living out of this job."
The women’s game is keeping pace with the men’s on the technological front, too. Alongside video assistant referees (VARs) and goal-line technology, semi-automated offside and connected ball technology is in operation at a Women’s EURO for the first time – matching what was deployed at the men’s EURO in 2024. "To be able to work with the semi-automated [technology] is an improvement that we’re grateful to have in women’s football," explains Huerta de Aza. "Anything that can help us to improve and make fairer decisions is good for football, for referees and for spectators. All the new technologies – such as VAR and now the connected ball and automatic offsides – are tools that will help us make a decision," agrees Frappart. "We will save time and make more accurate decisions. That’s the aim – being accurate in our calls and saving time so that we see more football." (Source: UEFA)
"I think being a referee is a very good experience that teaches you a lot," says Italy’s Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi, who made history in 2023 as the first woman to take charge of a men’s Serie A match. "You can grow up as a person, you learn to take decisions – especially for me, [when I took up refereeing] I was an age at which it’s not so common that young girls are used to taking decisions. For me that was very precious." Romania's Alina Peşu, who officiated Switzerland’s sold-out opening match against Norway in Basel, adds: "Refereeing builds personalities. After you start to be a referee, you start to be more mature – being confident in different situations, also [off] the field, and being in control."
"Refereeing gives us the chance to perform on big stages, in big tournaments like this one," says Portugal’s Catarina Campos. "I think this is something that could give the motivation to other girls to become referees. It’s a really credible way to be part of football and I hope that more and more girls decide to do it, challenge themselves to do it, because this is a real passion. It’s something that makes us feel really, really good and really proud." "With football, you will [meet] a lot of friends and lots of cultures," says Croatian referee Ivana Martinčić, who took charge of the Women’s Champions League final in May ahead of Women's EURO 2025. "You will see other countries and continents, you will meet a lot of people – for me, this is really something. I never thought I would do this, but I really enjoy it – and that’s the most important thing." (Source: UEFA)
Just a year after taking charge of the 2024 UEFA Women’s Under-19 EURO final, Italian referee Silvia Gasperotti has stepped onto an even bigger stage – her first Women's EURO. "It’s an incredible opportunity, a privilege, and an honour to be here," said Gasperotti. "But above all, it carries the great responsibility of representing UEFA in this tournament." The Women’s Under-19 EURO provided Gasperotti with the perfect opportunity to prove herself on the international stage. "Refereeing a final is always a great honour. It’s also a huge responsibility because you have to prove through your work and attitude that you deserve the trust of those who appointed you for that match," she said. "At the same time, it serves as a business card – a way of introducing yourself to the world. It has also motivated me to keep getting better and strive for new goals." Gasperotti has grabbed that opportunity, having taken charge of Norway’s Group A clash with Finland and the Group C encounter between Sweden and Germany at Women's EURO 2025. She sees the chance to learn from the wider refereeing team as key to her development. "I've had the opportunity to speak with women who have already had this experience," she said. "Their insights helped me understand what was required and what I had to work on in order to be ready for this great opportunity. "I’ve closely followed the suggestions and the plans provided by the fitness coaches with the aim of further improving my skills and trying to reach the high standard that is required by UEFA," she said. Gasperotti grew up with a love for football, inspired by following her brother to matches. A friend encouraged her to take a refereeing course, which kick-started her journey. "I started getting interested in refereeing as a way to experience the world of football through a different perspective," she recalled. "Being a referee helped me grow as a woman. It helps you face difficulties, meet great people and get out of your comfort zone." For Gasperotti, the Women’s EURO is just the beginning of her journey. "I want to work at my best in order to earn every next game," she said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I want to get the most out of it. There will definitely be new milestones to reach and new goals to pursue." (Source: UEFA)
