Sapir Berman Makes History After Becoming 1st Transgender Woman to Referee Top-Flight Match
- History was made in the Israel Premier League as Sapir Berman becomes the first transgender woman to officiate a match
- The country's FA is also delighted with the development as they intend to give her support
- Meanwhile, she is not the first to do so as Lucy Clark had come out as transgender in 2018
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
Sapir Berman became the transgender woman to officiate an Israel Premier League match earlier this month.
Sapir who was previously known as Sagi disclosed at a press briefing at the Israeli FA headquarters last month that she would start officiating games as a woman.
Having already started living as a woman, Berman is ready to have her gender reassignment surgery done while continuing to work.
PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed!
Reports say Sapir has been taking charge of games since the age of 17 and has worked her way up from the lower leagues. She is in her second season as a top-flight professional referee as reported by The Times UK.
Source: Getty Images
Sources reveal that players have started addressing her using the feminine form of words in Hebrew according to CNN. Berman said:
"They really feel that they want to somehow take part in this process and even speak to men when it's not necessary and speak to me as a woman. So thank you."
Banner hailing Berman as a superwoman, incredible and brave hung outside the stadium in the northern city of Haifa.
Meanwhile, the Israel Football Association tweeted as she took the field for the contest between Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Haifa that:
"This is the first step in a long and wonderful journey. Sapir, we are proud to do it with you."
CNN confirms that Sapir is not the first transgender referee in the soccer world. A British soccer referee, Lucy Clark, came out as transgender in 2018.
Legit.ng earlier reported that 23-year-old Mara Gomez becomes the first transgender woman to play the game of football in South American country, Argentina.
The Lanus football club striker received the approval to play and was in action in her side’s 7-1 loss to Villa San Carlos in the Primera A.
Source: Legit.ng
