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A Woman Finally Refereed A Major European Soccer Match

Bibiana Steinhaus was the center referee for a Bundesliga match between Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen on Sunday.

Steinhaus became the first woman to officiate a major European top-flight men’s league match and by all accounts she was not bad. Bundesliga’s own website said she “hardly put a foot wrong” and “distinguished herself with a fantastic decision to allow an advantage to be played” in the lead-up to the first goal of the match. 

Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen tied 1-1 in a clean match with just one yellow card shown.

Steinhaus is more than qualified to referee any match. The 38-year-old has spent 18 years officiating in lower leagues in Germany, including Bundesliga 2 since 2011, and has worked DFB-Pokal Cup matches involving top-flight clubs. She’s ref’d Women’s World Cup and Olympics finals.

She’s put up with men flirting with her by untying her shoes. She’s shrugged off the advances of Pep Guardiola. Her only downside is she’s reportedly dating former English referee Howard Webb

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