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Life as a top female referee

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to an ice hockey referee from Austria and a football referee from Denmark about their experiences as female officials in men's leagues.

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to an ice hockey referee from Austria and a football referee from Denmark about their experiences as female officials in men's leagues.

Austrian Julia Kainberger played ice hockey professionally for the Salzburg Eagles while also pursuing a career in officiating. She was one of the 12 European officials for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and, in 2024, became the first female referee in a men's Champions League game. Julia looks forward to a day where no female referee has to be 'the first one' anymore and it becomes the norm.

Frida Klarlund is a Danish football referee who has officiated international matches since 2015.聽 In 2021 she became聽the first woman to referee in the men鈥檚 second division. Frida has refereed at major tournaments such as the Women鈥檚 Champions League, World Cup qualifiers and the Women's Euros. She currently works in Denmark鈥檚 top women鈥檚 league.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Julia Kainberger courtesy Julia Kainberger. (R) Frida Klarlund credit UEFA.)

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27 minutes

Last on

Sat 1 Nov 2025 17:32GMT

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