First UEFA Women's Referee Symposium focuses on building pathways and targeted support
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
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Women's refereeing leads from across Europe gathered at UEFA HQ in Nyon to discuss the most effective strategies to ensure women are supported at every stage of the journey – from grassroots to the elite.
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How can we create the best possible environment for female match officials and maintain Europe's position at the forefront of refereeing excellence?
That was the key question at this week's inaugural UEFA Women's Referee Symposium, where open and constructive discussions were held on the realities women face in refereeing, including pregnancy, return-to-play after giving birth, mental health and balancing dual careers.
The event was designed to equip national associations with the tools needed to build sustainable pathways that allow female referees not only to enter the game, but to progress and thrive at every stage of their journey – one of the core priorities of our women's football strategy, Unstoppable.
"This Women's Referee Symposium is not about speeches, but about practical exchange," said UEFA Referees Committee member Dagmar Damková. "This is the perfect moment to move women's refereeing among national associations in Europe even higher – we want to be even better.
"Remember, the next generation of female referees will not judge us by our intentions, but they will judge us by what we built for them. I was there many years ago – we dreamed about what's possible for referees nowadays. It was impossible back then but now we can achieve even more, so let's give them that opportunity."
Recruiting and retaining referees
During the 2024/25 season, 18,524 female match officials were registered among Europe's 55 national associations – a 4.4% increase on the previous season. Yet 69% of them came from just six countries, underlining the need for more consistent recruitment efforts across the community.
Jean-Baptiste Bultynck, the Royal Belgian Football Association's head of performance evaluation, presented their response to that challenge. Belgium's latest recruitment campaign focuses on creating a welcoming first impression for new referees, a structured onboarding process, consistent follow-ups and increasing the visibility of female role models at the very start of the pathway.
Building on that example, delegates worked in groups to assess and refine their own recruitment strategies. Discussions covered lead generation, targeted messaging and social media, outreach to schools and universities, and the importance of proactive follow-up with prospective candidates.
Attention then shifted from recruitment to retention, with Dr Ian Rollo, head of GSSI International performance services and education, giving a presentation on the holistic support provided to elite female match officials. His session covered key performance and wellbeing considerations, including the menstrual cycle, sleep, hydration, nutrition and the importance of a well-fitting sports bra.
Delegates also explored ways to keep talented female officials in the game, identifying critical tools such as mentoring schemes, improved safeguarding measures, dual-career flexibility and clearer progression pathways.
🇳🇴 Norway: Supporting referees through motherhood
Norway's head of refereeing Terje Hauge – who officiated the 2006 UEFA Champions League final – explained how the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has increased the retention rate of female referees.
In 2015, the NFF had 113 female referees, including 10 officiating in the top tier of women's football. After a concerted effort, that figure rose to 203 by 2019, with 20 referees working across the top two divisions. During this period, however, the NFF recognised a retention challenge – several referees were not returning to officiating after having children.
To address this issue, the NFF introduced a framework for a return to action following pregnancy. Referees can now freeze their rankings during maternity leave while continuing to receive financial support, alongside access to physical and mental coaching. After giving birth, they then have six to 12 months to pass the women's referee fitness test. They are also permitted to bring their child to seminars and match camps, accompanied by a partner or family member.
Today, the NFF has 424 female referees, including 46 across the top two divisions of women's football. Of those top-level referees, 11 are mothers, with 17 children between them.
Women's health in officiating
Dr Eva Ferrer Vidal-Barraquer, female sports health specialist at the Barça Innovation Hub, also highlighted the medical, physical and psychological considerations for referees coming back from pregnancy, outlining how national associations can provide structured support to enable a safe and confident return.
A panel discussion then explored differing approaches to fitness standards when women officiate in men's competitions. Contributors included Stéphanie Frappart, the first women to referee in the men's UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup, and Cheryl Foster, referee of the 2023 UEFA Women's Champions League final, who is now the PGMOL select group women's professional game manager.
Also sharing their perspectives was Damková, who became the first woman to referee in the Czech First League before going on to officiate major finals, including the UEFA Women's EURO 2009 and 2011 UEFA Women's Champions League finals, and Sapir Berman, who became the first transgender woman to officiate an international match during a UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualifier in 2025.