‘I used to hate that word trailblazer’: Premier League’s first female referee reflects on 14-year career as she moves to managing officials
In the National Football Museum, Rebecca Welch is reflecting on her own place in the sport’s history.
“I used to hate that word trailblazer,” the Premier League’s first female referee told Sky News.
“I probably grew more comfortable with it over the years because it’s not really about me, it’s about how that influences the young girls, young boys, to think – there’s an opportunity to be involved in football.
“So if they see me in the Premier League and that makes them think about taking up the whistle and being a referee, then that’s really my job done.”
Rebecca Welch speaking to Sky News’ Rob Harris
Rebecca Welch walking out to start a Premier League game between Fulham and Burnley
And her job is done – on the pitch, at least.
Welch is speaking for the first time in a TV interview about her milestone match last December in the men’s top flight – refereeing Fulham’s match against Burnley – and her decision to retire at the peak of her game to take a job managing professional women’s referees.
Hers is not a career where sexism has inhibited her rise from NHS administrator to the Women’s Super League, the World Cup, the Olympics, and the Premier League.
But in the week anti-discrimination campaigners Kick It Out revealed half of women surveyed have witnessed or experienced sexist language at football, there is an incident Welch wants to talk about for the first time.
Welch wants to make clear she never heard the misogynistic chants, the stadium was far too loud at Birmingham City.
But police arrested two fans during the Championship match against Sheffield Wednesday last November, two years after she became the first woman to referee in the men’s English Football League (EFL).
“I did have the opportunity to ask the police what was said, but I didn’t want to ask because to me, it’s kind of irrelevant… the words,” Welch said.
“If the meaning behind it was misogynistic, then we shouldn’t be saying it.”
Welch believes in educating people so that behaviours can improve
Faced with prosecuting them or working to attempt to change the offenders’ mindsets, Welch favoured educating them with West Midlands Police and Kick It Out.
She offered to go to the education session but was out of the country doing what she did best – whistle in hand.
Catherine Clinton, who specialises in sexism in the Football Policing Unit, told Sky News that the education session had a positive effect, with the offenders realising how they may have impacted someone’s life.
“So the education was good for that and positively driving the social change in behaviour,” she said.
And that is why Welch was satisfied with the outcome.
“I think people should be given second chances, give them some education, and then if they do it again, I think then that’s probably a different story,” Welch said.
“We need to sometimes educate people so that behaviours can improve and that won’t happen again.”
The 40-year-old knows criticism is part of the game, but there is a difference when it oversteps the mark and descends into hatred.
And contrary to some perceptions from managers, players and fans, making a mistake will happen and does weigh on the mind.
You don’t quickly move on.
Read more from Sky News:
Teen who appeared in TV documentary dies
Weather in UK to be milder this weekend
Prince Harry excited at turning 40
“I think what people probably don’t see and should understand is there’s also an emotional attachment from the referee,” she said. “I’ve gone out and given decisions and reflected on them, even later on in the game.
“We do go out and try and give honest decisions based on what we can see and what view we’ve got.
“Sometimes they come back and they can be incorrect. A couple of them I’ve looked back and I’ve held my hands up and said to the managers or the players I was incorrect.”
There cannot be perfection in refereeing, even with VAR. Especially with VAR, creating unrealistic expectations of perfection.
VAR is yet to enter the Women’s Super League.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
“It’s the hardest job in football, but it’s probably why we love it,” Welch said. “We’re just trying to do an honest day’s work. That’s all we’re trying to do. And sometimes we do get things wrong.
“And I think every referee accepts that because we’re not superhuman. I think there just needs to be a little bit more understanding. Players get things wrong, coaches do. Sometimes referees do.
“We learn from that. We’ll get better and hopefully will not make the same mistake twice.”
Now it is for Welch to guide the next generation of referees, knowing her own place in history is secure.
And what about a woman coaching in the EFL or Premier League now those men’s competitions have had matches refereed by Welch, showing the best person has earned the opportunity and thrived?
“I think it’ll be a big milestone and, once one does it, then you see that happen and then other people will start doing it,” Welch said.
“I wouldn’t like to lose them (from the women’s game), but that’s a personal choice of a coach. In my opinion, the Women’s Super League is the biggest, if not the best, in the world. So why would you not want to coach in that league?”
Now for Welch, it is overseeing referees in that league, watching the growth from a wider vantage point, and reflecting with pride on a 14-year career.
“I look back on that and smile and think, I went there, I gave it a go,” she said.
“I’ve really excelled in it. I made the elite level and I can retire really, really happy.”
Britain should have access to the EU’s rearmament fund before the end of the year but “wounds of Brexit” mean some member states want it to be limited, the bloc’s foreign affairs chief has said.
Kaja Kallas told Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby that the “technical details” of Security Action for Europe (SAFE) still need to be sorted out.
SAFE is a €150bn (£126bn) fund to provide loans to EU nations and other participants to bolster their defences.
Politics Live: Starmer says EU deal ‘win-win’
As part of Sir Keir Starmer’s new reset deal with the EU, a new defence partnership was struck that will allow the UK to access it.
Asked when this might be, Ms Kallas said: “The SAFE instrument has just been finalised between the institutions but it also needs approval from the European Council. And when that is done, we also move on with the implementation of that, and that is in the coming months.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Who wins from the UK-EU deal?
Asked about reports that some member states think there should be a limit on what the UK can access, she said: “ Of course these discussions are there. We have the wounds from Brexit very clearly.
“I mean you wanted to exit the European Union and then there are many voices who say that you shouldn’t have the same benefits from the European instruments that the European Union countries have.”
According to The Times, France is pushing to freeze the UK out of 85% of the fund.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs. Pic: Reuters
Asked if Britain’s access should be higher, Ms Kallas said her personal view is that given the current climate “we should do both. We should invest more in European industry. But we should also cooperate with our outside partners like the UK”.
She added that the EU hasn’t had discussions in terms of percentage, because the fund is “down to the capabilities”.
“That is, I think, more important than numbers,” she said.
The UK government has said accessing SAFE will support thousands of British jobs.
Defence was one of the many areas that has been agreed as part of the new UK and the EU trade deal struck by Sir Keir Starmer – five years after Brexit kicked in.
A key part of the deal involves giving European fishing boats a further 12 years of access to British waters.
In return, there will be increased access to EU eGates for British passport holders in Europe, no health certificates every time pets travel to Europe and the removal of red tape from most UK food and drink imports and exports.
UK
‘I recognise the error and upset caused’ – Gary Lineker releases statement as BBC departure confirmed
Gary Lineker has confirmed reports he is leaving the BBC after this season’s Match Of The Day and will no longer present its World Cup coverage.
It comes after the 64-year-old “apologised unreservedly” for sharing a social media post illustrated with a rat – which has been used to represent Jewish people in antisemitic propaganda, including Nazi Germany.
In a statement on Monday, Lineker said: “Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio.
Read more: A history of Gary Lineker’s most controversial posts
“I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years. As I’ve said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for.
“However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”
Lineker has fronted Match Of The Day since 1999. PA
Lineker said he deleted the post when he learned about the rat’s symbolism, adding that he would “never knowingly share anything antisemitic”.
In a video posted to Instagram, the pundit added: “I’ve stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues and against all forms of racism all of my life, including, of course, antisemitism, which I absolutely abhor.
“There’s no place for it and never should be.”
He went on to thank the “brilliant, talented” people he has worked with and described his relationship with the BBC as “long and wonderful”.
He added: “But it’s the right time for the organisation and myself to go our separate ways.”
Lineker’s last appearance on the BBC will be on Sunday 25 May, the final day of the season.
‘A defining voice in football coverage’
Also confirming Lineker’s exit, BBC director general Tim Davie said: “Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.
“Gary has been a defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades. His passion and knowledge have shaped our sports journalism and earned him the respect of sports fans across the UK and beyond.
“We want to thank him for the contribution he has made.”
Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will share the role of presenting Match of the Day. Pic BBC/PA
The former England star announced in November he would step down from Match Of The Day this year, but was set to return to front the World Cup in 2026, as well as FA Cup coverage.
The presenter was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then Conservative government’s asylum policy.
He will be replaced on Match Of The Day by Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman, who will share the presenting role from the next Premier League season.
Lineker has hosted Match Of The Day since 1999 and has been the BBC’s highest-paid on-air talent for seven consecutive years.
He is also the co-founder of podcast producing company Goalhanger, which makes the popular The Rest Is History series and its spin-offs about politics, football, entertainment and money.
Lineker parting ways with the BBC also includes the licensing deal for Goalhanger podcast titles on BBC Sounds which ends this year, the PA news agency reported.
A “significant amount of personal data” of people who applied to the Legal Aid Agency – including criminal records – was accessed and downloaded by hackers, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said.
The group that carried out the cyber attack says it accessed 2.1 million pieces of data, but the MoJ has not verified that figure, it is understood.
The government became aware of the incident on 23 April, but realised on Friday it was more extensive than first thought.
An MoJ source put the breach down to the “neglect and mismanagement” of the previous government, saying vulnerabilities in the Legal Aid Agency systems have been known for many years.
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA), is an executive agency, sponsored by the MoJ, which is responsible for administering legal aid funding – around £2.3bn in 2023/24.
The data accessed affected those who applied for legal aid in the last 15 years, and may include contact details and addresses of legal aid applicants, their dates of birth, national insurance numbers, criminal history, employment status and financial data such as contribution amounts, debts and payments.
The MoJ has urged anyone who applied for legal aid since 2010 to update any passwords that could have been exposed, and be alert to unknown messages and phone calls.
The organisation’s digital services, which are used by legal aid providers to log their work and get paid, have been taken offline.
‘We needed to take radical action’
Legal Aid Agency chief executive Jane Harbottle has apologised for the breach and acknowledged the news would be “shocking and upsetting”.
“Since the discovery of the attack, my team has been working around the clock with the National Cyber Security Centre to bolster the security of our systems so we can safely continue the vital work of the agency,” she said.
“However, it has become clear that, to safeguard the service and its users, we needed to take radical action. That is why we’ve taken the decision to take the online service down,” she said.
Ms Harbottle said contingency plans are in place for those who need legal support and advice.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Retail disruption to ‘last months’
The Law Society, an organisation representing solicitors across the UK, blamed the attack on Legal Aid’s “antiquated IT system”.
“The incident once again demonstrates the need for sustained investment to bring the LAA’s antiquated IT system up to date and ensure the public have continued trust in the justice system,” said a Law Society spokesperson.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it is working with the National Crime Agency and National Cyber Security Centre to investigate the data breach.
The National Crime Agency said it was aware of the incident and was working closely with the MoJ to “better understand the incident and support the department”.
It comes after retailers Co-op, Harrods and Marks & Spencer were hit by cyber attacks, although there is no suggestion that they are connected to the incident at the LAA.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway