It is said that time is a gentleman, but lately it seems to wink more at women "and finally!"
exclaims the president of the FIGC, Gabriele Gravina, during the presentation of the women's refereeing movement at the Federcalcio, led by Ferrieri Caputi.
Maria Sole is the first female referee inserted in the Serie A and B championships, but she is only the tip of a much larger iceberg because "a girl on a football field is not there by chance or by mistake", she kept us in mind. specify the number one in The Hague, Alfredo Trentalange.
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The figures in pink, in fact, speak for themselves.
"We have a staff of 6% of women. A figure never reached, there is an 11% growth and 17 women come from double membership", continues Trentalange.
And sifting through the international 11-a-side football designations of the season just ended, there are 24 referees (9 of which by Ferrieri Caputi), 43 as an assistant and 18 as a fourth official.
Furthermore, from 14 February 2021, for the first time in the history of The Hague, a female component (Katia Senesi) is present in the national committee, while from May of that same year Silvia Moro is the secretary of the Italian Referees Association.
In short, "there are no more barriers of the type" you can't because we don't want her "explains Ferrieri Caputi who also stresses that there has been a greater openness in the world of arbitration to women" since the change at the top of the AIA " .
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More closeness, greater support and no gender distinction, just think of the imposition of the ace-referees in making men do the same athletic tests.
The path to get to Serie A, however, was certainly not easy.
"I find it hard to carry negative things with me. They hurt me on the spot, but they give me the push to do better - says Ferrieri Caputi - In the regional categories there are those who do everything to not put you at ease. The big problem of young people. referees is right at the beginning, then in the professional categories everything is more attenuated ".
First female referee in Serie A, Gravina (FIGC): 'Time is a woman, finally'
The North Star that dragged Maria Sole along her path, however, was her passion for football since she was a child.
"I never played because my parents weren't in favor, it was another era, but I lived this sport as an aggregation".
The sacrifice and the hard work carried out have then paid off and when they ask him for the most beautiful image that she carries with her, she has no doubts.
"After directing the men's Italian Cup I was designated in Pistoia to be the fourth official, when I entered the field the speaker of the club announced me and there were children who applauded me and asked me to say hello."
So the next step is to establish ourselves in every field, including that of the Var. "Maria Marotta and I will have little experience, but we are also certified for this role",
Maria Sole says confidently, flanked by Katia Senesi, satisfied that when talking about errors and female referees, the emphasis is no longer on gender differences.
"The players have made us understand that they are only interested in having a good match director, regardless of gender", explains Senesi.
The goal now is to transform the female referee into the ordinary and not the extraordinary because Trentalange's intention is "to give back to football that resource that has been hidden for too long".
And as Gravina says "the time for women has come.