Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi, Serie A’s first female referee, revealed that she decided to start officiating after being denied the chance to play football by her parents.
The 31-year-old Italian already has experience officiating matches involving Serie A teams, having overseen a Coppa Italia clash between Cagliari and Cittadella last season. With many fans and observers complaining about the poor level of refereeing in Serie A recently, Ferrieri Caputi has the perfect opportunity to show off the new era of officiating and stand out amongst her peers.
Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Ferrieri Caputi first revealed why she decided to become a referee.
“My parents didn’t want me to play, but in those days things were different to now. The refereeing course seemed like an opportunity to seize and in the early years it was something to share with my peers, above all else.
“I’m already working to get ready for the start of the season, I hope to make girls understand that it can be done.”
She looked back at her officiating career and the difficulty of rising up the leagues.
“The amateur leagues, for a referee, are the hardest. I experienced that, I wasn’t put at ease. But in professionalism, as the word itself says, there is professionalism.”
Finally, Ferrieri Caputi touched on the most special moment of her officiating career so far.
“After Cagliari-Cittadella, when I was appointed as fourth official for a Serie C match in Pistoia, my name was announced in the stadium and behind me there were children who started clapping.”
Ferrieri Caputi’s appointment to Serie A is an important step in helping to grow the profile of the women’s game and improve the diversity of the Italian topflight.