Women referees set record in SCCL R16 matches

CONCACAF said on Monday that a new mark for women referees has been set in the 2023 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) Round of 16.

By the time the Round of 16 concludes on Thursday night, a record 14 women referees will have worked across the 16 matches, CONCACAF said.

It said the second leg matches of the Round of 16 will also see two women serve as assessors.

CONCACAF said seven women referees were assigned to last week’s first leg matches, beginning with Mexico’s Katia Garcia serving as the assistant video assistant referee (AVAR) for the 0-0 draw between Alianza of El Salvador and the Philadelphia Union last Tuesday at the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador.

A day later at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, Panama, in the match between local side Tauro FC and Club Leon of Mexico, Felisha Mariscal and Kathryn Nesbitt of the United States worked as assistant referees during Club Leon’s 1-0 victory, CONCACAF said.

Later that night in Vancouver, British Columbia, in the contest between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Real Espana of Honduras, CONCACAF said Mexican referee Sandra Ramirez served as the assistant referee in Vancouver’s 5-0 victory.

On Thursday the Canadian duo of Marie-Soleil Beaudoin and Chantal Boudreau were assigned the 0-0 draw between Motagua of Honduras and Liga MX side Pachuca at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, CONCACAF said.

It said Beaudoin served as the fourth official, while Boudreau worked as the AVAR.

To cap the week, CONCACAF said Jamaica’s Jassett Kerr-Wilson worked as an assistant referee in the 3-0 victory for Los Angeles FC over Alajuelense of Costa Rica at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

CONCACAF another seven women have been assigned matches for this week’s second legs, starting with Stephanie Yee Sing of Jamaica as assistant referee in the Austin FC-Violette match at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.

Mexico’s Enedina Caudillo will work as assistant referee at the Real Espana-Vancouver Whitecaps second leg at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, while countrywoman Diana Perez Borja will be the AVAR.

CONCACAF said the Real Espana-Vancouver Whitecaps will also include Dianne Ferreira-James of Guyana as assessor.