Israeli referee Sapir Berman beamed as she recalled the moment her “dream came true” earlier this year, when she became the first transgender woman to officiate an international football match.
“I always wanted to be a woman, and I always wanted to be a football referee — and then those two came together and fused into one dream that just exploded with joy,” the 31-year-old told AFP.
“It’s an uplifting, powerful feeling — the feeling that I’m doing the right thing, that I’m choosing myself, that I’m showing the world it’s possible.
“Since I was five, I remember wanting to be a woman, wanting to be a girl. And when I started playing football, I realised that the dream of being a woman and playing football didn’t go together,” she said.
“So I decided to hide who I was and just keep playing football. I hid myself for almost 26 years.”
Berman grew up in a football-loving family, playing as a defender for around 10 years from around the age of five.
When she realised her professional ambitions were not working out, she joined the referees association and worked her way up to preside over men’s matches in the Israeli Premier League.
But all the while, Berman felt she was hiding her innermost secret and was even frustrated during the initial stage of her hormone therapy.
It was when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and Berman was plunged into lockdown that she began reflecting on the future.
“I asked myself: ‘Is this what life will look like? Is this where it’s going?’” she said.
“I decided to reveal myself.”
Berman initially feared her career in football was over, but said her brother suggested she try to make it work.
– ‘A lot of questions’ –
England’s Lucy Clark became the first transgender woman in the world to referee a match in 2018, in the third tier of English women’s football, but has never officiated internationally.
When Berman officiated the Women’s Under-17 Euro qualifier between Northern Ireland and Montenegro in Belfast in March, it was a first for European football, according to UEFA.
Berman said the journey was not always easy, despite great support and professionalism from Israel’s referees association.
“There were a lot of questions, and a lot of moments where they said: ‘We don’t know what to do.’ And I also didn’t know what to do, what it involved, what to expect, or how the process would go,” she said.
Berman said that when she began hormone therapy as part of her transition, she initially felt resentful towards her body.
“Outside the field, I felt amazing. On the field, I felt that I destroyed my career,” she said.
She failed two fitness tests and was moved down a league, but with the help of a sports psychologist and “a lot of trial and error”, she made her comeback.
Berman received her international badge earlier this year and dreams of refereeing a match in the Champions League, the European Championship or the World Cup.
– ‘Different layers’ –
Transgender participation has become a hot-button issue as different sports try to balance inclusivity with ensuring fair competition.
Earlier this year, England’s Football Association announced that transgender women would no longer be allowed to play in women’s football.
Berman said she trusted those in decision-making bodies and expected them to “find the way to integrate, to unite, to diversify”.
“Human beings are made up of so many different layers, and you come and reject us for just one reason,” she said, explaining how an athlete’s performance could also be affected by mental, financial, geographical or familial factors.
On the pitch, Berman said she has received positive reactions from both players and supporters.
“The fans continued to curse me — only now, they did it in the feminine form,” she said, adding it “was a kind of stamp of approval — that they see me exactly as I am”.
And on the street, young people have told her that her story has given them hope.
“That fills me up. It gives me so much strength to keep going and doing what I do — because at the end of the day, I chose myself.”
Spanish giants Real Madrid said Tuesday they generated a record 1.221 billion euros ($1.39 billion) in revenue in the 2025/2026 season, despite failing to win a trophy.
“Operating revenue, excluding income from player transfers, reached €1.221 billion, 3.1 percent more than in the previous financial year,” said Los Blancos in a statement.
“Real Madrid has therefore exceeded the €1.2 billion mark for the first time, a figure that no other sports organisation in the world has achieved to date, consolidating the club’s position as the revenue leader in the sports industry.”
Madrid said they made 26 million euros ($30m) profit after tax, up by 8 percent on the earnings from 2024/25.
The club’s strong financial showing was boosted by an increase in income from their renovated Santiago Bernabeu stadium, up by 11 percent to 363 million euros ($413m), along with new sponsorships.
Los Blancos appointed Jose Mourinho as coach to replace Alvaro Arbeloa in June following two seasons without a major trophy, and have made several signings already this summer, including Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella.
Madrid have agreed terms with RB Leipzig’s Ivorian winger Yan Diomande according to media reports, while Manchester City midfielder Rodri is also a rumoured target as they continue to remodel their squad.
The Nigeria Football Federation and Canadian club AFC Toronto have condemned the racist abuse directed at Super Falcons midfielder Esther Okoronkwo on social media following the theft of her money at Nigeria’s team hotel in Morocco.
PUCNH Online reports that the incident occurred during the Super Falcons’ stay in Morocco for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where a hotel worker stole cash belonging to the player.
Moroccan authorities later arrested the suspect, recovered the stolen money, ordered its return to the player and sentenced the offender to six months’ imprisonment.
Despite the swift action by Moroccan authorities, Okoronkwo was subjected to racist comments and monkey emojis on social media, prompting the Super Falcons forward to respond publicly and drawing strong condemnation from both the Nigeria Football Federation and her club, AFC Toronto.
In separate statements released on Monday on their X handles, both organisations described the attacks as unacceptable and reaffirmed their support for the Nigeria international.
The NFF said racism and discrimination had no place in football or society.
“The Nigeria Football Federation strongly condemns the unacceptable racist abuse directed at Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo on social media following recent incidents at the team’s hotel in Morocco.
“Discrimination in any form has no place in football or society,” the federation said.
The NFF noted that the online abuse was unjustified, stressing that the individual responsible for the theft involving the player had already been arrested, ordered to return the stolen cash and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
“The racist abuse and emojis directed at our player make absolutely no sense, especially as the individual responsible for the theft was apprehended, made to return the stolen cash in full, and sentenced to six months in prison,” the statement read.
The federation also assured that the welfare of the Super Falcons remained a top priority, adding that the incident would not distract the team from its campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
It added, “The safety, dignity, and well-being of our players remain our utmost priority.
“The entire team stands united, unbothered by distractions, and fully focused on tomorrow’s #WAFCON2026 opener against Malawi.”
AFC Toronto, Okoronkwo’s club, also threw its weight behind the striker, declaring that there was no place for racism in football.
“There is no place for racism in our game. Today and every day we stand for respect and inclusion,” the club said.
The Canadian club disclosed that Okoronkwo had been subjected to racist abuse while representing Nigeria at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
“Over the past few days, Esther Okoronkwo has been subjected to racist abuse while representing Nigeria at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.”
AFC Toronto said football should be a safe and welcoming environment for everyone and pledged its support for the player.
“At AFC Toronto, we believe football should be a place where everyone feels safe, respected and valued. We are proud to stand with Esther and all athletes who face racism and discrimination, both on and off the pitch.”
Super Falcons midfielder Esther Okoronkwo has responded defiantly after being subjected to racist abuse on social media following her criticism of the theft incident which affected several Nigerian players at the team’s hotel in Casablanca ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Okoronkwo, who had publicly revealed that cash was stolen from her and some teammates at the Marriott Hotel in Casablanca, took to Instagram on Sunday to condemn the abuse while insisting the team remained focused on the tournament.
“Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that. We move forward with pride, unity and determination. See you on the pitch,” Okoronkwo posted.
The midfielder had earlier disclosed that she, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Michelle Alozie and captain Rasheedat Ajibade were among the players who had money stolen from their hotel rooms before the Super Falcons departed Casablanca for Rabat.
Following her comments about the incident, Okoronkwo’s Instagram page was flooded with racist messages, with several users posting monkey emojis and other abusive comments.
The theft case has since taken a new turn after reports emerged that a suspect had been arrested and confessed to the crime. According to Nigerian journalist and former Super Eagles media officer Colin Udoh, the suspect is expected to make full restitution while legal proceedings continue.
Udoh also called on football’s governing bodies to act over the racist abuse directed at the Nigerian international.
“I hope @FIFAcom, @CAF_Online, @CAFwomen and @CAF_Media take note and take action. This is unacceptable,” he wrote on social media.
