LONDON:
Burnley supervisor Vincent Kompany congratulated Rebecca Welch for a “milestone” achievement after she turned the primary lady to referee an English Premier League soccer match by taking cost of the Clarets’ 2-Zero win at Fulham on Saturday.
Welch, a 40-year-old from Washington in northeast England, was working for the Nationwide Well being Service when she started her refereeing profession in 2010.
She rose by means of the officiating ranks and, in 2021, turned the primary lady appointed to referee a match within the English Soccer League when she took cost of the fourth-tier fixture between Harrogate and Port Vale.
Welch was additionally the primary feminine official to referee matches within the Championship and third spherical of the FA Cup.
Kompany, who spoke to Welch after full-time at Craven Cottage, stated: “I wished to congratulate her as a result of it is a huge second.
“After the sport it is honest to say that it is a milestone second and will there be extra, and one of the best factor will all the time be when somebody is judged on benefit.
“However it’s important to have a primary and that is it, so properly executed (to her) and I am glad to be a part of this second.”
Welch had little to do early on throughout a gradual begin in London on Saturday earlier than her resolution to not award a Vitinho handball pissed off Fulham.
Welch remained unmoved by gamers’ reactions when making her rulings and was glad to play benefit for either side each time doable in a match through which long-range strikes from Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge gave Burnley solely their third league win of the season.
She booked Calvin Bassey after 25 minutes for hanging Josh Brownhill. The Fulham defender refused to stroll in direction of Welch when signalled by her on three events however finally approached the referee and was cautioned.
Welch’s identify was greeted by cheers when learn out by the general public deal with announcer at Craven Cottage forward of kick-off.
However Fulham followers turned more and more aggravated as Welch’s first few choices went in favour of the guests and so they cheered sarcastically when the hosts had been awarded a foul in midfield.
It was laborious to argue with Welch’s choices till that time, though whistles and chants of “do not know what you’re doing” rang spherical the bottom after she waved off Harry Wilson’s appeals simply contained in the guests’ half — though this was the form of remark any referee would possibly anticipate.
Welch maintained her composure and authority all through an assured Premier League debut.
Final month, Welch turned the primary lady to behave as fourth official in a Premier League sport as a part of the crew for Fulham’s match in opposition to Manchester United.
Welch has additionally taken cost of a number of high-profile ladies’s fixtures, together with video games on the 2023 Ladies’s World Cup.