<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Stephanie Frappart will become the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match after FIFA announced on Tuesday that she will take charge of Thursday's Group E match between Germany and Costa Rica.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify; ">France's Frappart is one of three women referees among the 36 selected for the tournament in Qatar, alongside Rwandan official Salima Mukansanga and Japan's Yoshimi Yamashita.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Three other female officials have travelled to the World Cup as assistant referees.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For the 38-year-old Frappart, refereeing her men's World Cup match is the latest step in a rapid rise to the top level in Europe.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">She was the first woman to referee in France's Ligue 1 in 2019, the same year she took charge of the women's World Cup final in her home country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Frappart also officiated the 2019 UEFA Super Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea, before refereeing the Champions League in 2020 and then the French Cup final last season. BSS</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>