Japan's Yoshimi Yamashita Becomes First-Ever Female Referee at AFC Asian Cup

Yoshimi Yamashita became the first female referee at the Asian Cup when she handled the game between Australia and India on Saturday.

The Japanese official was joined by two female assistants — compatriots Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi — for the Group B game at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan.

The Asian Football Confederation described it as a “landmark appointment.”

The 37-year-old Yamashita, who earned her FIFA refereeing badge in 2015, was Japan’s first professional female referee and has officiated games in her country’s top division, the AFC Cup and Asian Champions League.

She was among 36 referees at the World Cup in 2022, but did not take charge of any games. Instead, she was a fourth official for six matches at the tournament, also in Qatar.

Yamashita, who FIFA has described as “trailblazing,” has also refereed at two Women’s World Cups and the 2020 summer Olympics.

In the match that Yamashita officiated tpday, Australia cruised to a 2-0 victory in their Asian Cup opener against India with Jackson Irvine and Jordan Bos scoring from close range to launch their title bid.

Indian fans among the official attendance of 36,253 kept up their fine voice throughout, even as their team’s chances of a goal faded with the desert sun.

In a host country with a massive Indian population, Igor Stimac’s side can be sure of a rowdy following for all of their games in Group B.

Next up they face Uzbekistan on Thursday, when Australia take on Syria.