Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi has made history in Italy as the first female referee to officiate a game involving a Serie A club, as she wielded the whistle when Cagliari played Cittadella in the Coppa Italia.
She was in charge of this evening’s Round of 32 game at the Sardegna Arena.
There have been two female referees for Serie B matches, Maria Marotta and Ferrieri Caputi, but this fixture was different because it involved a Serie A team, specifically Cagliari.
She is the fourth female referee registered for Italian football at the professional level.
The 31-year-old researcher for the Fondazione Adapt is from Livorno and currently based at the University of Bergamo.
Her first Serie B fixture was between Cittadella and SPAL played in October 2021, so this is another step towards the ‘dream’ expressed by previous AIA (Italian Referees Association) President Alfredo Trentalange of having a female referee for a Serie A match.
Coppa Italia, Ferrieri Caputi dirige Cagliari-Cittadella. È la prima volta di una donna con una squadra di A https://t.co/lczwalNDLV
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) December 15, 2021
Why is it a dream though? It will probably happen naturally someday, but if it doesn’t then it’s ok too. When you dream about something you might end up forcing it by moving heaven and earth for it to happen. No need to force something like this.
Brava Maria. It shouldn’t be such a headline in this day and age. We need more women involved in sports, politics, government, and life in general.
@villarusso as long as it is on merit and competence, I am more than happy.
In politics especially.
Agree with Milan Fan. Strange words to use. A dream?
I agree shouldn’t be such a headline if we want to normalize the idea then we should do just that. I will curse her out like any other serie a ref and that will be the greatest compliment.