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.”
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said on Friday that he was “confident” that Kylian Mbappe will be available to face Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
“He’s getting better day by day,” Arbeloa said at a press conference. “He won’t be there tomorrow (Saturday, in La Liga against Elche), but I’m confident he’ll be on the trip to Manchester.”
With Mbappe sidelined by a knee injury and several other key players missing, Real thrashed City 3–0 in the first leg at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, thanks to a hat-trick from Federico Valverde.
City host the second leg next Tuesday and risk being knocked out of Europe by Madrid for the third season in a row.
France forward Mbappe, hampered by a sprain to his left knee since late December, has not played since withdrawing from the squad to face Benfica in the second leg of the Champions League knockout phase play-off round on February 25.
Mbappe has scored 38 goals in 33 appearances for his club this season.
His expected return for Madrid comes ahead of the international break, where France will face Brazil and Colombia in pre-World Cup friendlies in the United States.
Head Coach of Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, Rena Wakama, has urged her players to quickly move past their loss to South Korea.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that D’Tigress lost 77–60 to the Asian side on Thursday, the first time Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team has been defeated by South Korea.
Nigeria kept the contest close in the first two quarters, trailing narrowly 36–32, but failed to maintain momentum in the third and fourth quarters as the game slipped away.
Victoria Macaulay led Nigeria’s effort, scoring 22 points and grabbing six rebounds after her Most Valuable Player performance in the opening game against Colombia.
Wakama said the team must refocus and improve ahead of their next game against the Philippines at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Lyon, France.
She said the defeat offered important lessons, while commending the Korean side for their strong performance.
“Korea is a great team. We struggled with our shooting and had 22 turnovers, which is not typical of our game,” she said.
“Our mentality is strong, and we will not overreact to the loss. We will learn from it and prepare better for the next game,” Wakama added.
She said the Koreans applied intense physical pressure, disrupted Nigeria’s passing lanes, and effectively double-teamed key players.
“They did a great job defensively. Credit to them for the way they played,” Wakama said.
South Korea are aiming to secure one of two available World Cup tickets in the round-robin qualifying tournament.
The countdown is officially on: just 100 days remain until one of the most anticipated moments in FIFA World Cup history, the 1,000th match of the tournament.
On June 20, Tunisia and Japan will step onto the pitch at the iconic Monterrey Stadium in Mexico to contest this historic fixture, marking a milestone that underscores the enduring legacy of the world’s most popular sporting event.
The FIFA World Cup, held every four years, has grown into a global celebration of football, bringing together nations and fans from every continent.
Since the inaugural tournament in 1930, the World Cup has been the stage for legendary goals, unforgettable upsets, and moments that have transcended sport.
Reaching the 1,000th match is a testament to decades of footballing excellence, cultural significance, and the universal love for the game.
According to a post on FIFA’s X handle on Friday, the world football governing body was quoted as saying, “100 days to go until the 1,000th @FIFAWorldCup match Tunisia and Japan will make history when they contest this landmark fixture at the iconic Monterrey Stadium in Mexico on June 20.”
Monterrey Stadium, known for its passionate supporters and electric atmosphere, will provide the perfect backdrop for this landmark match.
Both Tunisia and Japan, nations with rich footballing histories, will have the opportunity to write their names into the tournament’s record books.
Tunisia, having qualified for several World Cups since their debut in 1978, will look to showcase their disciplined and tactical style of play.
Japan, a regular at the tournament since 1998, is renowned for its technical skill and organised approach, making the clash an intriguing tactical contest.
Beyond the numerical significance, the 1,000th match represents the global growth of football. From the early tournaments in Uruguay and Italy to the modern spectacles in stadiums like Qatar’s Lusail Stadium and Mexico’s Monterrey Stadium, the World Cup has evolved into an event watched by billions around the world. This milestone is a celebration of football’s capacity to unite diverse cultures and communities, creating shared memories that span generations.
Fans and football analysts alike are eagerly speculating about the impact of this historic match. Social media and global coverage are already generating excitement, with supporters of both teams celebrating the chance to participate in such a unique moment. Players from Tunisia and Japan have spoken about the honor of being part of history, emphasizing that the milestone adds extra motivation to deliver memorable performances.
The 1,000th match is also symbolic of football’s ability to inspire. Every World Cup has stories of determination, resilience, and teamwork that have captivated audiences. This milestone game serves as a reminder of the sport’s global reach, highlighting how football has become a universal language, connecting people across borders, languages, and cultures.
As the world counts down to June 20, anticipation continues to build. Tunisia and Japan are not only playing for points in the tournament but also for the chance to be forever linked to a landmark moment in football history. For fans, this match is more than just a game it is a celebration of the FIFA World Cup’s storied past, its present vibrancy, and its bright future.
With just 100 days to go, the 1,000th FIFA World Cup match promises to be a spectacle that will be remembered long after the final whistle, cementing its place as one of the tournament’s most historic milestones.
