Yes. Rebecca Welch became the first woman to referee a Premier League match on 23 December 2023, and women had already been working in the competition as assistant referees since 2010.
Key milestones for women officiating in the Premier League
Here are the main milestones for women officiating in the competition.
| What | Who | When |
|---|---|---|
| Reached the Premier League as an assistant referee | Sian Massey-Ellis | 2010 |
| First woman to referee an English Football League match | Rebecca Welch | 2021 |
| First woman to be fourth official in a Premier League match | Rebecca Welch | November 2023 |
| First woman to referee a Premier League match | Rebecca Welch | 23 December 2023 |
Women reached the Premier League first as assistant referees, then as fourth official, and then as the referee.
Rebecca Welch's career before and after her Premier League match
Welch became a referee in 2010. She did that alongside her job in the NHS before moving into officiating full time.
In 2021 she became the first woman appointed to referee an English Football League match, Harrogate Town against Port Vale in League Two. In November 2023 she became the first woman to act as fourth official in a Premier League match, for Fulham against Manchester United.
Her pathway also included international appointments. She joined FIFA's Elite List of International Match Officials in December 2020 and later officiated at UEFA Women's Euro 2022 and the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. In August 2024, she retired from her on-field career to become manager of the Select Group Women's Professional Game.
Assistant referees reached the competition earlier
The first female presence in Premier League officiating did not come through the referee role. It came through the assistant referee route.
Sian Massey-Ellis reached the Premier League as an assistant referee in 2010, and at that time she was only the second woman ever to do so. She went on to officiate on over 150 top-flight matches.
Her list of firsts continued beyond regular league fixtures. She became the first female assistant referee appointed to the FA Community Shield, and in 2021 she was the first woman involved in the men's FA Cup final as assistant video assistant referee.
In August 2026, she retired from officiating and took up the role of Senior Manager – Women Referees at The Football Association. Natalie Aspinall was one of the first female officials to break through to the Premier League.
Where the two retired officials went next
These are the two women in this group who later moved off the field into management roles.
Rebecca Welch retired from on-field officiating in August 2024 and became manager of the Select Group Women's Professional Game. Sian Massey-Ellis retired in August 2026 and took up the post of Senior Manager – Women Referees at The Football Association.
FAQ
Who was the first woman to referee a Premier League match?
Rebecca Welch was the first. She took charge of Fulham against Burnley on Saturday 23 December 2023.
Can a woman be a Premier League referee?
Yes, that has already happened in match practice. Women have also worked in the Premier League as assistant referees and as fourth official.
Were there female officials in the Premier League before Welch refereed a match?
Yes. Women had already reached the competition as assistant referees before Welch's appointment as referee. Sian Massey-Ellis was in the Premier League as an assistant referee in 2010.
How many female linesmen have there been in the Premier League?
The term used in the modern game is assistant referee. Sian Massey-Ellis reached the Premier League in that role in 2010, at the time only the second woman ever to do so, and Natalie Aspinall was one of the first female officials to break through to the competition.