Published 09 January 2023 4 min read
Refereeing
English officials get World Cup call-up
Rebecca Welch, Natalie Aspinall and Sian Massey-Ellis set for Australia and New Zealand this summer
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England won’t only be represented by the Lionesses at this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, as three English officials have now been appointed for the competition.
Referee Rebecca Welch (Durham CFA), assistant referee Natalie Aspinall (Lancashire CFA) and video match official (VMO) Sian Massey-Ellis (Birmingham CFA) will all be on duty in Australia and New Zealand for the tournament between 20 July and 20 August.
For Welch, from Tyne & Wear in the north east, it’s another achievement to add to her accolades having already become the first female official to referee in the EFL and Emirates FA Cup over the last two years as well as being on UEFA’s elite women’s list and officiating at last summer's UEFA Women's EURO on home soil.
And Blackpool-based Aspinall will head to the competition on the back of her first season as an assistant referee in the English Premier League, following six seasons in the EFL before that.
Massey-Ellis will travel for her sixth major international tournament, after previously being involved in the 2007, 2011 and 2019 Women’s World Cups and the EURO in 2009 and 2017 as an assistant referee.
Referee Rebecca Welch (Durham CFA), assistant referee Natalie Aspinall (Lancashire CFA) and video match official (VMO) Sian Massey-Ellis (Birmingham CFA) will all be on duty in Australia and New Zealand for the tournament between 20 July and 20 August.
For Welch, from Tyne & Wear in the north east, it’s another achievement to add to her accolades having already become the first female official to referee in the EFL and Emirates FA Cup over the last two years as well as being on UEFA’s elite women’s list and officiating at last summer's UEFA Women's EURO on home soil.
And Blackpool-based Aspinall will head to the competition on the back of her first season as an assistant referee in the English Premier League, following six seasons in the EFL before that.
Massey-Ellis will travel for her sixth major international tournament, after previously being involved in the 2007, 2011 and 2019 Women’s World Cups and the EURO in 2009 and 2017 as an assistant referee.
The trio are in a team of 33 referees, 55 assistant referees and 19 VMOs to form 'FIFA Team One' who’ve been chosen based on the officials’ quality and the performances delivered at FIFA tournaments as well as at other international and domestic competitions in recent years.
And Massey-Ellis makes history as she’s one of six female VMOs selected for the first time in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
From here, the officials will kick-start their preparations for the World Cup in January and February with preparatory seminars in Doha and Montevideo.
And Massey-Ellis makes history as she’s one of six female VMOs selected for the first time in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
From here, the officials will kick-start their preparations for the World Cup in January and February with preparatory seminars in Doha and Montevideo.
“As always, the criteria we have used is ‘quality first’ and the selected on-field match officials represent the highest level of refereeing worldwide,” said the chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina.
“We all remember the very successful FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 in France. The high standard of refereeing contributed significantly to that success. The aim for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 is to repeat that success and to convince again with excellent referees’ performances.”
Congratulations to Rebecca, Natalie and Sian from everyone at England Football.
“We all remember the very successful FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 in France. The high standard of refereeing contributed significantly to that success. The aim for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 is to repeat that success and to convince again with excellent referees’ performances.”
Congratulations to Rebecca, Natalie and Sian from everyone at England Football.
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