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The SFV was also very surprised when Esther Staubli (44) decided to give up her career as a referee with immediate effect in February. The woman from Bern was the female figurehead of the association and also a role model for many young women – such as Vroni Schlüchter and Nicole Petignat before her.
“We would have liked it to be different,” says Sascha Amhof, head of the referee department at the SFV. “She was our number 1, a driving force, a role model and important in the training. A bitter loss.”
Staubli had achieved (almost) everything, refereed the Champions League and European Championship finals and at three World Cups. She also played for the men and led 28 games in the Super League. She didn’t have an acceptance problem because of her gender. For Staubli, it made no difference whether she refereed a men’s or women’s match. The final whistle of his own career, a year and a half before the home European Championship, came as a surprise.
Quality determines, not gender
Despite Staubli’s departure, Amhof is convinced that it will not be another twelve years before the next woman whistles in the Super League. Ex-Nati player Désirée Grundbacher (40) and Michèle Schmölzer (32) are two refereeing women in the Challenge League who have the potential to follow in Staubli’s footsteps. But what is important is the quality and not the gender. “If they take the step, it will not be because they are women, but because they are of good quality,” says Amhof.
At the end of 2023, 122 female referees (including 41 assistants) were registered with the SFV. The number has continuously increased: from 90 to 122 since the 2016/17 season. Two assistants, Susanne Küng and Linda Schmid, are currently working in the Super League.
Especially when she whistles internationally, the time a referee needs increases, because this entails several days of absence. And this happens earlier for women than for men, before they have been promoted to the highest division in the country. Combining work, family, private life and referee work requires a high level of organizational talent, says Amhof. “Esther has sacrificed an incredible amount for her career.”
The country needs new referees
The recruitment of referees – men and women – is a fundamental problem. Tens of thousands are missing in Europe and 500 in Switzerland. The SFV wants to use the attraction of the European Championships at home in 2025 to specifically inspire women for the job.
In collaboration with the 13 regional associations, the first measures have been planned by setting up recruitment stands around matches in all competitions. “Women must also be addressed specifically there,” says Amhof. These often require a different, more specific approach. “From women to women.”
The SFV expects that the number of licensed female footballers will double from 40,000 to 80,000 by 2027. Therefore, in addition to the infrastructure, the number of football officials must also be increased.
The SFV has acknowledged the problem. “The development is very dynamic and we have to keep up with it,” says Amhof. “We need referees regardless of gender.” Ultimately, the association’s most important rule is that a lack of referees should never be the reason why a match – regardless of the level – cannot take place.
This is one of the reasons why the tradition of top Swiss referees should certainly be continued. These are also socio-politically relevant. As one of her last matches, Staubli refereed the friendly match in Saudi Arabia between Al-Nasr and Inter Miami. And her French colleague Stéphanie Frappart was the first woman to officiate a men’s World Cup match in Qatar in 2022. “This has a historical dimension,” says Amhof. This should become normal for future referees.
|
team
|
SP
|
T.D
|
PT
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
 BSC Young Boys
|
27
|
31
|
54
|
|
|
2
|
 Napkin FC
|
27
|
18
|
53
|
|
|
3
|
 FC Lugano
|
27
|
8th
|
43
|
|
|
4
|
 FC Zurich
|
27
|
10
|
42
|
|
|
5
|
 FC St. Gallen
|
27
|
4
|
40
|
|
|
6
|
 FC Winterthur
|
27
|
-2
|
40
|
|
|
7
|
 FC Lucerne
|
27
|
-4
|
37
|
|
|
8th
|
 Yverdon Sports FC
|
27
|
-18
|
33
|
|
|
9
|
 FC Basel
|
27
|
-11
|
31
|
|
|
10
|
 Grasshopper Club Zurich
|
27
|
-3
|
29
|
|
|
11
|
 FC Lausanne Sport
|
27
|
-7
|
29
|
|
|
12
|
 FC Stade Lausanne Ouchy
|
27
|
-26
|
19
|
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.
