A particular day.
Because in her way it was normal despite the exceptionality, say those who have experienced it.
Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi made the history of Serie A, in an hour and a half of refereeing, and she did so by passing her personal exam at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia.
A small test for her, a big step towards gender equality, which comes from one of the most 'masculine' sports in the world.
The first woman to direct a Serie A match: it is not an absolute novelty, in world football, after Frappart in the Champions League or the Italian Cup with A teams directed by Maria Sole herself. But it is a turning point in the championship of insults from the stands and poisons in the field.
"I greeted her as I do with all the referees: for me she and a male referee are the same thing", the best compliment, at the end of the game, from the Sassuolo coach, Dionisi.
Sassuolo-Salernitana was an easy match, which ended 5-0 for the neroverdi, but the spotlight was on the Tuscan referee, the first woman to direct a Serie A match. She did not let herself be dazzled, with a direction balanced, attentive and all in all, helped by the players, as well as by the progress of a race without history.
She who still saw her assign a penalty, granted without hesitation to the hosts at that moment in 1-0 lead and confirmed closely by the Var,
despite the contact was one of the light ones that the refereeing tendency of Rocchi's team tends to avoid The 31-year-old from Livorno has had a game of medium importance like Sassuolo-Salernitana, in a stadium, that of Reggio Emilia, notoriously quiet.
And so it was this afternoon.
After the photo of her with her two assistants, Ranghetti and Vivenzi and the fourth officer Chiffi, Maria Sole started the dances.
The audience appeared to be focused entirely on cheering, with the curve, practically exhausted, which hosted the fans from Campania, while many children were present in that of Sassuolo.
There was no particular or different reception from that which a male colleague would have had.
First half, very quiet.
Zero warnings, and few fouls whistled.
One of these, however, was very important, the penalty for Sassuolo in the 36th minute for a foul by Maggiore on Ceide, almost on the edge of the baseline.
Ferrieri Caputi, well positioned, had no doubts in immediately indicating the spot under the curve of the visiting fans.
Unavoidable protests from the players of Salernitana, who surrounded it.
A few minutes of waiting and confirmation from the Var. A little relief for the referee:
to miss the first important decision on the day of his debut in Serie A would not have been a good start.
Penalty aside, correct match in the first half.
The referee was more committed to interrupting the game to ascertain the physical conditions of the players, who ended up on the ground after tough tackles.
She let her play, always close to the action.
The first important whistle was the one that validated Laurientè's goal on the 12th minute.
The progress of the match, decidedly in favor of Sassuolo, did not warm the spirits too much on the pitch, to the point that there were no real protests, apart from the rigor, there were none.
Easy task also in the second half: at 12 'the first yellow card to Vilhena for incorrect play on Frattesi, the second at 28' to Rogerio from Sassuolo for foul on Bonazzoli.
And while Sassuolo drowned Salernitana with goals, it was easy for the referee Maria Sole to finish the match.
Perhaps the next one will not be so easy, but having climbed the first mountain without flaws was not obvious.
"Congratulations to you, you played a good game. Definitely better than ours ...", the comment of the coach from Salernitana, Nicola.
And he wasn't sexist fair play.