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AFC Asian Cup: female referee Yamashita to make finals history, AFC renews partnership in effort to eradicate match-fixing ‘scourge’
- Yoshimi Yamashita will become first women to referee an AFC Asian Cup finals match when she takes charge of Australia v India on Saturday
- Governing body renews partnership with fraud prevention experts in ongoing bid to tackle ‘scourge of match-fixing’
Yoshimi Yamashita will become the first woman to referee a match at an AFC Asian Cup finals tournament, after being appointed to oversee Australia’s meeting with India on Saturday.
The Japanese referee was the fourth official at six 2022 Fifa World Cup games, and is now poised to make history back in Qatar. She will be supported by assistant referees, and compatriots, Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi.
The trio have made a habit of smashing through the glass ceiling, after becoming the first all-female official team in the AFC Cup, in 2019, the AFC Champions League, in 2022, and in Japan’s J1 League last year.
Yamashita refereed in the past two editions of the women’s AFC Asian Cup finals, in 2018 and 2022, and officiated at the 2019 and 2023 women’s Fifa World Cups.
The AFC called Yamashita’s selection for Australia’s game against India contest at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium a “landmark appointment”.
Stephanie Frappart of France became the first woman to referee at a men’s World Cup finals when she took charge of a game between Germany and Costa Rica at the 2022 competition.
Separately, the Asian Football Confederation has renewed its decade-long partnership with Sportradar, the technology company that specialises in fraud prevention.
A documentary aired on Chinese state television this week showed former men’s national team head coach Li Tie confess to bribery and match-fixing, and ex-FA chairman Chen Xuyuan own up to accepting bribes. Li and Chen were both arrested last year.
Announcing the partnership with Sportradar, which will last until 2027, AFC president Sheikh Salman said: “For the past 10 years, Sportradar has been a valued, reliable and trusted partner of the AFC, and together we have stood tall to combat the scourge of match-fixing in Asia.
“Since 2013, our collaboration has necessarily evolved strategically to consistently safeguard the integrity of football in Asia, while the AFC has forged a stronger relationship with Sportradar, in the process.
“We are proud of what has been accomplished so far, but we cannot be complacent, and, together, we will continue the fight to keep our beautiful game clean for the benefit and enjoyment of our loyal and passionate fans.”
Yoshimi Yamashita will become the first woman to referee a match at an AFC Asian Cup finals tournament, after being appointed to oversee Australia’s meeting with India on Saturday.
The Japanese referee was the fourth official at six 2022 Fifa World Cup games, and is now poised to make history back in Qatar. She will be supported by assistant referees, and compatriots, Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi.
The trio have made a habit of smashing through the glass ceiling, after becoming the first all-female official team in the AFC Cup, in 2019, the AFC Champions League, in 2022, and in Japan’s J1 League last year.
Yamashita refereed in the past two editions of the women’s AFC Asian Cup finals, in 2018 and 2022, and officiated at the 2019 and 2023 women’s Fifa World Cups.
The AFC called Yamashita’s selection for Australia’s game against India contest at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium a “landmark appointment”.
Stephanie Frappart of France became the first woman to referee at a men’s World Cup finals when she took charge of a game between Germany and Costa Rica at the 2022 competition.
Separately, the Asian Football Confederation has renewed its decade-long partnership with Sportradar, the technology company that specialises in fraud prevention.
A documentary aired on Chinese state television this week showed former men’s national team head coach Li Tie confess to bribery and match-fixing, and ex-FA chairman Chen Xuyuan own up to accepting bribes. Li and Chen were both arrested last year.
Announcing the partnership with Sportradar, which will last until 2027, AFC president Sheikh Salman said: “For the past 10 years, Sportradar has been a valued, reliable and trusted partner of the AFC, and together we have stood tall to combat the scourge of match-fixing in Asia.
“Since 2013, our collaboration has necessarily evolved strategically to consistently safeguard the integrity of football in Asia, while the AFC has forged a stronger relationship with Sportradar, in the process.
“We are proud of what has been accomplished so far, but we cannot be complacent, and, together, we will continue the fight to keep our beautiful game clean for the benefit and enjoyment of our loyal and passionate fans.”