For 15 years, we have seen them every week on the Starligue pitches, in Paris, Nantes or Montpellier.
And since all this time, we continue to confuse them: Julie and Charlotte Bonaventura are twin sisters.
They are also referees and even form one of the best pairs in the world.
This Wednesday, the international federation appointed the two Marseillaises, aged 40, to lead the Sweden - Qatar quarter-final of the World Cup.
The winner of this duel will perhaps meet France in the semi-final on Friday if the Blues manage to cross the Hungarian obstacle at the same time.
The fate of France in Egypt therefore rests a little on the frail shoulders of these two inseparable "sisters" who reside in Aubagne, at the foot of the Garlaban immortalized by Marcel Pagnol.
This is the first time that Julie and Charlotte Bonaventura are at the whistle of a men's world quarter-final, a proof of recognition.
But the two twins are used to clearing unknown lands.
In 2017 in France, they were already the first women to referee matches at a Men's World Cup.
"We are always a curiosity"
In Egypt, Julie and Charlotte Bonaventura find their way easily: they gently impose respect and are, despite themselves, examples in a very masculine environment.
“We are still a curiosity in the global landscape but people know us more and more,” explains Julie.
It is certain, however, that we are more noticed as women and twins than any pair.
They have a reputation for directing their game with a firm hand, without hesitation with that little feminine charm that nails the beak of the most grumpy of players.
Day of Quarter-finals of the World Cup # Egypt2021 for French handball 👏🇫🇷
➡ Les Bleus face Hungary at 8:30 p.m. (@beinsports_FR and TFX)
➡ Charlotte and Julie BONAVENTURA will whistle on 🇸🇪⚡🇶🇦 #OnEstTousHandballeurs #TousArbitres pic.twitter. com / msCwt84m1q
- FFHandball (@ffhandball) January 27, 2021
Invited in the big leagues in the middle of muscular golgoths, who no longer see their small size as simple feminist alibis, they are not at their first stroke of brilliance.
In 2012, just four years after obtaining the badge to referee at the international level, they led the final of the women's Olympic tournament in London between Norway and Montenegro (26-23).
Each season, they referee more than 50 matches between the French championship men or women, the European Cups and the international tournaments where they now have their almost permanent invitation: "Yes, it is true that we have a few kilometers on the clock" Charlotte jokes unless it is Julie as the resemblance is so striking.
They feared the reaction of the Bahrain players
In Egypt, in a country where women's rights are open to debate, they are not on conquered ground.
In the previous round, they led Croatia - Bahrain with real fear about the behavior of Bahrain players in relation to the role of women.
Everything went wonderfully: “Our colleagues told us that they had never seen these teams, Croatia like Bahrain, behave so well.
The attitude of the Bahraini players was a pleasant surprise, because it was feared that they would not accept having female referees.
»Judge the two accomplices.
Paid for spending half of their time on the roads, on the train, on planes or in theaters (€ 600 for two for a Starligue match), Bonaventura are not professional.
Charlotte is employed in a pension fund and has to tap into a vacation to hold the whistle.
Julie, who is coming out of an economic layoff, plans to share her experience as an international arbitrator in company seminars.
His schedule on the handball courts does not allow him to find a salaried job compatible with his insane schedule.
