By Victor Kanayo
An English woman, Rebecca Welch, has become first to officiate during a Premier League match.
Welch made the history when she took charge of Burnley’s 2-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Welch Prolific Officiating History
Welch became a referee in 2010 when she combined it with a job in the NHS, before becoming a full-time official in 2019.
In January, she became the first woman to referee a men’s fixture in the Championship.
She returned to Craven Cottage a month on from serving as the fourth official during Fulham’s 1-0 Premier League defeat by Manchester United.
Welch was the first woman to take charge of an FA Cup third-round tie in 2022 after being added to the EFL’s national list for men’s football, which oversees both League One and League Two fixtures.
The referee, from Washington in Tyne and Wear, has been a leading light for English officials in the Women’s Super League.
Her work has been recognised on the international stage too as she was added to Fifa’s elite list of international match officials in December 2020, before refereeing at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in the summer.
Premier League Outcomes, Prospect
Meanwhile, Arsenal remained on top of the League table with a point after a thrilling draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
Victory for either side would have put them top of the table at Christmas but they had to settle for a share of the points in an entertaining encounter.
In the other weekend encounters, West Ham United hammered fumbling Manchester United 2-0.
Surprisingly, Burnley defeated resilient Fulham 2-0, while Luton town stopped Newcastle 1-0.
Nottingham Forest continued their losing style to Bournemouth 2-3, as Tottenham had to grind out a 2-1 win over rejuvenated Everton.
Chelsea will on Sunday face Wolverhampton Wanderers in an uncertain expected end for the clash.
