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FIFA announced on Monday that it had named Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb as its new head of women’s refereeing.
Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb has worked a Women’s World Cup final and the Olympic football tournament. (Photo courtesy of FIFA)
FIFA announced on Monday that it had named Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb as its new head of women’s refereeing.
A former FIFA referee, the German native enjoyed an influential refereeing career that saw her become the first woman to take charge of a final at the Women’s World Cup and the women’s Olympic football tournament, as well as matches in the men’s Bundesliga, among other achievements.
A police officer by profession, Steinhaus-Webb qualified as a referee with the German Football Association in 1995. Ten years later, she became a FIFA referee and went on to officiate in nine FIFA competitions between 2008 and 2021.
In her new role, Steinhaus-Webb will oversee and drive further development of women’s refereeing at all levels, including across FIFA women’s competitions and educational initiatives, in cooperation with FIFA’s member associations and the confederations.
“I’m thrilled to join FIFA and look forward to making a contribution to the steady growth of women’s refereeing,” Steinhaus-Webb said in a statement. “FIFA has shown a consistent commitment to taking refereeing to the next level as an integral part of the game, and it’s an honour for me to apply my experience and to support female referees across the world.”
Added FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström: “FIFA remains committed to promoting the growth of the women’s game, and maximizing on the huge developmental opportunity it holds. Refereeing is of course a key part of that opportunity and bringing figures of the stature and experience of Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb will contribute significantly to this objective. I very much look forward to working with her in the years ahead.”
Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA referees committee, Pierluigi Collina also commented: “Bibiana’s outstanding experience as a trailblazer of the game, coupled with her thorough understanding of the current challenges facing female referees, will help us massively to develop the next generation of elite female match officials.”
Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.
