For the first time in men’s World Cup history, a woman has taken to the field as referee.

France’s Stephanie Frappart officiated for the Germany v Costa Rica match – and led an all-female on-field team, with Brazil’s Neuza Back and Mexican Karen Diaz Medina chosen as her assistants.

Kathryn Nesbitt of the United States was also working at the Group E match at the Al Bayt Stadium, as the offside specialist in the video review team.

FIFA has two other women, Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda and Yoshimi Yamashita of Japan, on its list to referee games at the tournament in Qatar.

Before the game Ms Frappart said: “I’m really going to head into this with enormous emotion, but you have to channel that because clearly the important thing is the pitch.

“I think I’ll have everything that’s around me in mind, and the aim will still be the same, that is the referee according to the performance on the pitch.”

FIFA described the occasion as “history in the making”.

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Ms Frappart had been picked previously for duties as the fourth official.

The 38-year-old had already written her name into the history books. In March 2021, she became the first female referee to take charge of a men’s World Cup Qualifier as the Netherlands beat Latvia 2-0 in Amsterdam.

She also oversaw a men’s Champions League match in December 2020.

Ms Frappart also took charge of this year’s men’s French Cup final and the 2019 Women’s World Cup final for FIFA.

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