Jordan: All-female refereeing team makes history

A team of female referees has made history after officiating an all-male game for the first time in Jordan.

On Tuesday, Sahab SC and al-Baqa’a Club went head to head in the Jordan Pro League championship finals, with Sahab winning the match 4-1. 

'I can send a message that women can work in any field'

- Israa Mobaideen

A squad of four female referees was called to officiate the match, in a move to support Jordan’s efforts to promote football amongst women. 

The group was led by Israa Mobaideen, who was assisted by Islam al-Abadi, Sabreen al-Abadi and Haneen Murad, all of whom were approved by Fifa, the international football federation, qualifying them to manage international matches.

In an interview with Reuters, Mobaideen stressed how Tuesday’s match can have a positive effect on women’s position in society.

"It is important to have a positive impact on the society that I live in. Taking part in the professional league will give a good image of female refereeing.

"I can send a message that women can work in any field," she said.

For Jordanians, the appointment of the all-female referee team served as a source of great pride, with Prince Ali bin Hussein, the half-brother of Jordan’s King Abdallah, retweeting the news.

Those who interacted with the prince's post expressed their own sentiments of pride towards the historic move.

Translation: I am proud of the achievements of Jordan and Jordanians in sports at Arab and international levels, and I am proud of the involvement of both sexes at all levels and roles, from players to referees. From achievement to greater achievement, God willing.

Earlier in the year, Mobaideen, along with her colleague Islam al-Abadi, officiated qualifier matches in the 2022 women’s cup of the Asian Football Confederation.

This article is available in French on Middle East Eye French edition.