REBECCA WELCH is set to become the first female referee to take charge of a Premier League game.
The official will make history on December 23 after being confirmed as the referee for Fulham’s match against Burnley.
AlamyRebecca Welch will become the first female referee to take charge of a Premier League game[/caption]
Welch previously became the first woman to referee a men’s Championship game in January.
Since taking up refereeing in 2010, she has officiated in both the Women’s Super League and Women’s Champions League as well as the EFL.
The 40-year-old was also one of the match officials at this summer’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Welch made history in November too as the first woman to be involved in a Premier League match in a refereeing capacity.
She served as the fourth official in Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Her history-making appointment will see her return to West London next weekend for the Cottagers’ clash with Burnley.
The latest set of Premier League referee appointments have also seen Sam Allison confirmed as the league’s first black referee for 15 years.
He will oversee Sheffield United vs Luton on Boxing Day in another historic appointment.
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Welch previously made history as the fourth official in Manchester United’s win at Fulham in NovemberRex
Uriah Rennie had been the league’s last black referee after retiring in 2009.
Meanwhile, the EFL’s last non-white referee Jarnail Singh ended his career in 2010.