BURNLEY manager Vincent Kompany congratulated Rebecca Welch for a “milestone” achievement after she became the first woman to referee an English Premier League football match by taking charge of the Clarets’ 2-0 win at Fulham on Saturday.
Welch, a 40-year-old from Washington in northeast England, was working for the National Health Service when she began her refereeing career in 2010.
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She rose through the officiating ranks and, in 2021, became the first woman appointed to referee a match in the English Football League when she took charge of the fourth-tier fixture between Harrogate and Port Vale.
Welch was also the first female official to referee matches in the Championship and third round of the FA Cup.
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Kompany, who spoke to Welch after working full-time at Craven Cottage, said: “I wanted to congratulate her because it’s a big moment.
“After the game, it’s fair to say that it’s a milestone moment and may there be more, and the best thing will always be when someone is judged on merit.
“But you have to have a first and this is it, so well done (to her) and I’m happy to be part of this moment.”
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Welch had little to do early on during a slow start in London on Saturday before her decision to not award a Vitinho handball frustrated Fulham.
Welch remained unmoved by players’ reactions when making her rulings and was happy to play advantage for both sides whenever possible in a match in which long-range strikes from Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge gave Burnley only their third league win of the season.
