Germany’s Bibiana Steinhaus is set to make Bundesliga history today by becoming the first woman to referee in one of Europe’s top leagues, according to reports.
Top German daily newspapers Bild and Die Welt claim the 38-year-old Steinhaus will officiate when Hertha Berlin host Werder Bremen in Germany’s top flight in the capital on Sunday.
The German Football Association (DFB) has refused to confirm the reports and, as is customary, will only announce the referee appointments for the following weekend in the Bundesliga tomorrow.
Steinhaus, who is on the official list of Bundesliga referees for the 2017/18 season, has sat out the first two rounds of matches this season.
Her debut on Sunday at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium is set to make Steinhaus the first female referee in the German, English, Spanish, French or Italian leagues, having already been an assistant referee in the Bundesliga.
She is experienced at the top level having officiated the women’s Champions League final in Cardiff this year and the 2012 women’s Olympic tournament final in London.
Steinhaus was promoted to the list of Bundesliga officials in May, after already officiating 80 matches in the 2. Bundesliga in the last decade.
The 38-year-old, a police inspector by profession, is reportedly due to take charge of Hertha’s game against Bremen, 18 years after Steinhaus first officiated a men’s game.
While the German FA (DFB) will not confirm Steinhaus’ debut before Thursday, Berlin-based B.Z. reported that she has been lined up to officiate the match.
“I wish her a good match,” Hertha coach Pal Dardai told Bild when asked about Steinhaus’ debut. “She does a really good job.”
Hertha full-back Marvin Plattenhardt, 25, added: “She officiated a match back when I still played for Nurnberg [in the second tier]. That was good. But we don’t need to discuss the referee — we need to focus on ourselves and win that match.”