Algeria: All-women referee team runs official men’s football match for first time

For the first time in Algerian football history, four female match officials were appointed to referee in a match held on Saturday between ES Ben Aknoun and RC Kouba in Algiers.

The referee committee of the Algerian Football Association appointed four female officials to run the 22nd and last round of the Ligue 2.

International referee Lamia Othman led the match, assisted by Amsa Wahab and Samira Maliani as assistant referees, and Ghada Mahat as fourth referee.

“From the beginning, we came in the match just as similar previous matches. I was the fourth referee in the first leg, and all players know me. We didn’t face any difficulties. I agreed with the girls to tackle with this match as other matches in the women’s league,” Othman said.

Cashi Jamal, head of the Women’s National Football League, added: “As officials and referee committee, we seek to apply the policy of the Algerian Football Association in terms of women officials. Thank God, we have an excellent tournament in women’s football; some teams will compete in African championships for the first time. The same applies to referees. We are working hard to reach international levels. We have women officials and are working on them.”

—

SOT, Lamia Othman, International referee (Arabic and French): “From the beginning, we came in the match just as similar previous matches. I was the fourth referee in the first leg, and all players know me. We didn’t face any difficulties. I agreed with the girls to tackle with this match as other matches in the women’s league. We have 17 laws that we have applied while cooperating with each other. There was no problem with the players, on the contrary, they helped us”

SOT, Cashi Jamal, Head of Women’s National Football League (Arabic): “First of all, we thank both teams, especially the players and staff who helped the referees through their discipline. As officials and referee committee, we seek to apply the policy of the Algerian Football Association in terms of women officials. Thank God, we have an excellent tournament in Women’s football; some teams will compete in African championships for the first time. The same applies to referees. We are working hard to reach international levels. We have women officials and are working on them”