Rebecca Welch made history when she became the first woman to referee a Premier League match.
The Washington native made her Premier League debut against Burnley on Saturday (December 23) at Craven Cottage. Her debut in the Premier League occurred nearly 14 years after she began her officiating career in 2010.
Welch, 40, coupled her employment with a position in the NHS until becoming a full-time official in 2019.
Following her inclusion on the EFL’s national list for men’s football, she became qualified to referee both League One and League Two games.
Welch made her Premier League debut on Saturday, handing out three yellow cards as Fulham were defeated 2-0 at home by relegation-threatened Burnley, who won only their third league game of the season.
Fans on social media praised the referee, with one X user saying, “A terrific reception for the role-model, inspiration, and trailblazer,” and another saying, “Twenty years ago, I would’ve thought this day impossible.” Today is a watershed moment. It has me! Fans applauded when Rebecca Welch emerged from the tunnel.”
Piers Morgan joined in the fun, joking that she’d riled Fulham supporters after their defeat, writing: “Congratulations to Rebecca Welch on becoming the Premier League’s first female referee.”
“By all accounts, she had a very solid game and was clearly there on merit, despite the fact that every Fulham fan is now blaming her for their own players’ dreadful performance.” So she should fit right in!”
Welch, according to PGMOL chairman Howard Webb, is driving the fight for female referees in English football. “We’ve never had a female referee in a Premier League game before,” referees’ boss Howard Webb told BBC Sport.
“In both the men’s and women’s games, we have some really talented officials.” Rebecca is in charge of this.”
