Forty-year-old set to become league’s first female referee and her appearance may have a welcome effect of lessening abuse
Rebecca Welch is no stranger to being first. Two years ago, she became the first female referee in the EFL when she officiated a League Two clash between Harrogate and Port Vale. The first woman to oversee a Championship match, she also became the first woman to act as fourth official in a Premier League game (Manchester United’s 1-0 away win over Fulham last month).
On Saturday, Welch returns to Craven Cottage, where she will take charge when Fulham host Burnley. In doing so, she will become – you guessed it – the first woman to oversee a Premier League fixture.
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