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The Croatian Ivana Martinčić will lead the DFB team’s World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein in Wolfsburg. Photo: picture alliance / dpa (Image: dpa)
(Foto: picture alliance / dpa)
Wolfsburg – premiere in DFB history: for the first time, a female referee will lead an international match for the national soccer team.
UEFA assigned the Croatian Ivana Martinčić for the World Cup qualifier on November 11th (8.45pm / RTL) in Wolfsburg against Liechtenstein. For the 36-year-old, it is also her debut in an international men’s game. Martinčić has been leading FIFA games since 2014, including two test matches for the German women’s national soccer team against Sweden and Italy.
The use of Martinčić is not a novelty in men’s football. This year, more women had premiered at international men’s games. The French Stéphanie Frappart and the Ukrainian Kateryna Monsul, for example, led games in the World Cup qualifiers at the end of March. In the Bundesliga, Bibiana Steinhaus is the only woman to date to whistle men’s games.
Another woman is an assistant to Martinčić’s referee team in Wolfsburg in Sanja Rodjak-Karšić. Goran Pataki is also on the sidelines. The fourth official, Igor Pajac, and video referee Duje Strukan are also from Croatia.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 211109-99-932055 / 2
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