Rebecca Welch to Become First Woman to Referee Premier League Match

Rebecca Welch is expected to become the first woman to referee a match in the English Premier League when Fulham hosts Burnley on December 23rd. The referees' committee confirmed Welch's selection for this assignment on Thursday, also noting that Sam Allison will become the first Black referee to officiate a Premier League match in 15 years. Allison will officiate the Sheffield United vs. Luton Town match on December 26th. He will be the first Black referee in the Premier League since the retirement of Uriah Rennie in 2009. Welch has been a pioneer in women's officiating, having served as the fourth official in last month's match between Fulham and Manchester United, making her the first woman to hold this role. The 40-year-old Welch has previously officiated matches in lower divisions as well as the FA Cup, and she was among the referees for this year's Women's World Cup.