All-Female Referee Team Makes History in Serie A Match

In a historic first for Italian football, an all-female referee team will officiate the Serie A match between Inter Milan and Torino on Sunday, April 28, 2024. The team will be led by Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi, who made history as the first female referee in Serie A in 2022. Ferrieri Caputi will be joined by assistants Francesca Di Monte and Tiziana Trasciatti.

This milestone comes as Italian football confronts issues of representation and inclusivity in the traditionally male-dominated sport. The match will also see Inter Milan continue celebrations for their 20th league title, which they secured in a derby win over AC Milan earlier this week.

Ferrieri Caputi, a 34-year-old with a degree in Sociology and Social Research, has been a professional referee since the 2020/2021 season. She has previously made history as the second woman to referee a Serie B match and the first to manage a Serie A team in a Coppa Italia match. In 2022, she became the first woman to regularly referee Serie A matches.

The trio of Ferrieri Caputi, Di Monte, and Trasciatti were also the first all-female team to referee a Serie B match in December 2022 and an Italian Cup match in January 2023. This will be their debut in Serie A, the top Italian football league.

Ferrieri Caputi, who is also a FIFA-certified referee, has officiated six Serie A matches this season, issuing 31 yellow cards and 1 red card, and awarding 2 penalty kicks. She will be assisted by Francesca Di Monte and Tiziana Trasciatti, with Matteo Marchetti as the fourth official and Di Paolo and Aureliano in the VAR booth. "This will be the first time Ferrieri Caputi officiates an Inter Milan match this season, having previously officiated a Torino match in November 2022," according to the Italian Football Federation.

Key Takeaways

• First all-female referee team to officiate a Serie A match on April 28, 2024.
• Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi to lead the team, the first female Serie A referee.
• Ferrieri Caputi, Di Monte, and Trasciatti previously officiated Serie B and Italian Cup matches.
• Milestone marks progress towards gender equality and inclusivity in Italian football.
• Ferrieri Caputi has officiated 6 Serie A matches this season, issuing 31 yellow, 1 red, and 2 penalties.