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Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is “very happy” with it. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta thinks it is “very necessary”. And City’s Pep Guardiola says: “This is excellent news.” The reason for the exuberant tone of the great guild of Premier League managers is Rebecca Welch, a forty-year-old football referee – and a pioneer, at least on the island. She is the first woman to referee a Premier League match: Fulham’s home match the day before Christmas Eve against Burnley, the team of Nati striker Zeki Amdouni.
Anyone who regrets that this circumstance will receive extra attention in 2023 is of course right. It remains news for the time being – even though three colleagues already whistled first class or are still whistling: Bibiana Steinhaus (44) in Germany, Stéphanie Frappart (40) in France and Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi (33) in Italy.
Hollywood star Hugh Grant in the stands
What then! Last week she refereed the Second Division match between Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday and stoically endured stupid, sexist insults. And with the same confidence she will lead the two teams onto the field at Craven Cottage this Saturday afternoon. Welch has everything under control: game and players. However, the teams don’t make it that difficult for her. They kick instead of complaining. Fulham controlled the match in the first half, but lost 2-0. Zeki Amdouni occasionally wins a dribble, takes a free kick and, above all, he fails from the edge of the penalty area shortly after the break. After 80 minutes he goes outside.
Other deviations? No. Welch ends the match after 97 minutes. And is praised afterwards. Burnley coach Vincent Kompany said: “It’s easy to talk about a milestone after a win. Still, I say: well done. I’m glad I got to be part of this moment.”
Hollywood star Hugh Grant, a big Fulham fan, watches the match in the stands. His expression is dark. But because of the result – and not because of Welch. (wrong)
|
team
|
SP
|
T.D
|
PT
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
 Arsenal F.C
|
18
|
20
|
40
|
|
|
2
|
 Liverpool F.C
|
18
|
21
|
39
|
|
|
3
|
 Aston Villa
|
18
|
16
|
39
|
|
|
4
|
 Tottenham Hotspur
|
18
|
13
|
36
|
|
|
5
|
 Manchester city
|
17
|
20
|
34
|
|
|
6
|
 West Ham United
|
18
|
1
|
30
|
|
|
7
|
 Newcastle United
|
18
|
14
|
29
|
|
|
8th
|
 Manchester United
|
18
|
-5
|
28
|
|
|
9
|
 Brighton & Hove Albion
|
18
|
3
|
27
|
|
|
10
|
 Chelsea F.C
|
17
|
2
|
22
|
|
|
11
|
 AFC Bournemouth
|
17
|
-8th
|
22
|
|
|
12
|
 Fulham F.C
|
18
|
-5
|
21
|
|
|
13
|
 Brentford FC
|
17
|
0
|
19
|
|
|
14
|
 Wolverhampton Wanderers
|
17
|
-8th
|
19
|
|
|
15
|
 Crystal Palace
|
18
|
-8th
|
18
|
|
|
16
|
 Everton F.C
|
18
|
1
|
16
|
|
|
17
|
 Nottingham forest
|
18
|
-14
|
14
|
|
|
18
|
 Luton town
|
17
|
-14
|
12
|
|
|
19
|
 Burnley F.C
|
18
|
-18
|
11
|
|
|
20
|
 Sheffield United FC
|
18
|
-31
|
9
|
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
