The 10 best female referees in the world: Ranking the top officials

With the development of society, women are increasingly participating in roles traditionally held by men. Women’s football is also growing rapidly and receiving much more attention. Alongside female players, female referees are becoming more prominent, with many making a strong impression. In this article, goaloomobi.com highlights the best female referees.

The 10 best female referees in the world

This list reflects the author’s personal opinion.

10. Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)

Karboubi is one of the most respected referees today, not only in football but also as a police officer in Morocco. At AFCON 2023, she became the first woman to officiate a group-stage match as the main referee (Nigeria vs. Guinea-Bissau). Before that, she was also the first female referee to be part of the VAR team in the AFCON 2021 final. In addition, she has officiated at major events such as the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

9. Désirée Blanco (Switzerland)

Unlike many referees who start their officiating careers early, Désirée was previously a professional football player in Switzerland. She also represented the Swiss women’s national team for many years. Currently, she is one of the few female referees officiating in men’s competitions, including the Swiss Super League and Challenge League. At the 2025 Women’s EURO, she is the only Swiss referee selected to officiate in a tournament hosted in her home country.

8. Antsino Twanyanyukwa (Namibia)

Also a former player, Twanyanyukwa was nicknamed “Di Maria” during her playing days for her technical ability and aggressive style before transitioning to refereeing. She made history by becoming the first Namibian referee to officiate the African Women’s Cup final between Morocco and Nigeria in 2025. According to IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics), she has consistently ranked among the top 10 female referees in the world and has been one of Africa’s leading referees in recent years.

7. Silvia Gasperotti (Italy)

Silvia Gasperotti is a member of the Italian Referees Association (AIA) in the Rovereto region and is currently one of Europe’s standout female referees. She is among the pioneering officials (along with Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi) trusted with roles in Italy’s top competitions, from fourth official to main referee, as part of the FIGC’s development programs. She has also officiated in the Champions League, EURO, and the Women’s World Cup.

6. Katia Itzel Garcia (Mexico)

Katia Itzel Garcia made headlines in March 2024 when she became the first woman in 20 years to officiate a match in Mexico’s top men’s league (Liga MX), in the game between Pachuca and Querétaro. The last woman to achieve this was Virginia Tovar in 2004. Katia is known for her firm and decisive officiating style, as well as her effective use of VAR, noted for both accuracy and quick decision-making.

5. Edina Alves Batista (Brazil)

Edina is the female referee who has officiated the most matches in the history of Brazil’s top men’s league. Despite the league’s physical and demanding nature, she consistently earns the respect of players. She also made history as part of the first all-female refereeing team to officiate a match at the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup, handling the fifth-place playoff between Ulsan Hyundai and Al-Duhail.

4. Tess Olofsson (Sweden)

In November 2023, Tess Olofsson became the first woman to officiate a match in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s top men’s league. She also refereed the women’s football final between the USA and Brazil at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Off the pitch, she works as a police officer and has said that her experience helps her stay calm and composed in high-pressure situations.

3. Ivana Martinčić (Croatia)

Ivana is currently one of the leading referees, having officiated in men’s leagues since 2021. At the end of 2025, she was ranked as the third-best female referee in the world by IFFHS, behind Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi and Stéphanie Frappart. One of her notable milestones was being selected by UEFA to officiate the 2025 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final between Arsenal and Barcelona in Lisbon.

2. Stéphanie Frappart (France)

Frappart is one of the most accomplished referees in the world and has set several historic milestones. At the 2022 World Cup, she became the first woman to officiate a match in the men’s World Cup finals (Germany vs. Costa Rica). She has also officiated in the UEFA Champions League and the men’s UEFA Super Cup. Notably, she won the IFFHS “Best Female Referee in the World” award five consecutive times from 2019 to 2023.

1. Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi (Italy)

Maria Sole is widely regarded as the top female referee in the world today. In October 2022, she became the first woman to officiate a Serie A match (Sassuolo vs. Salernitana). Unlike many female referees who appear in only a few symbolic matches, she has become a regular and trusted official in Serie A, handling games involving top clubs such as Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan.

Goaloo Mobi has compiled the list of the 10 best female referees in the world. To discover more of the latest football news, click on the link in the article.