In a historic moment for football, Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita is set to become the first woman referee to officiate a men’s AFC Asian Cup match. The groundbreaking event will take place on Saturday during the India vs Australia AFC Asian Cup 2023 Group B game at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.
The all-female trio, consisting of Yamashita as the referee and assistant referees Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi, will oversee the encounter.This isn’t the first time this trio has worked together, having collaborated in club matches at the 2019 AFC Cup, the 2022 AFC Champions League, and Japan’s J1 League last year.
Yamashita, the first professional woman referee from Japan, brings significant experience, having officiated in two women’s World Cups and served as a match official at the 2022 World Cup.At 37 years old, Yamashita is one of five officials making history as the first woman to referee matches at the men’s Asian Cup, a tournament that runs from January 12 to February 10.
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