Ireland's Michelle O'Neill to make history as part of first female UEFA Super Cup refereeing team for Liverpool Chelsea tie

Ireland’s Michelle O’Neill will be part of the first female team to officiate a major men’s competition event when they preside over the UEFA Super Cup between Liverpool and Chelsea on August 14^th.  

French referee Stéphanie Frappart, who, along with O’Neill, took charge of last month’s World Cup final between the United States and the Netherlands, will lead the team at Besiktas Park in Istanbul.

Wexford native O’Neill and Manuela Nicolisi of France will act as Frappart’s assistants, as they did for the US’s 2-0 win over the Dutch that sealed a second successive World Cup crown.

Turkey’s Cuneyt Cakir, who took charge of the men’s Champions League semi-final second leg between Liverpool and Barcelona, is fourth official.

As it was in the World Cup, VAR will be in use with France’s Clement Turpin the VAR official with assistance from Francois Letexier, Mark Borsch and Massimiliano Irrati.

Frappart has become accustomed to breaking down barriers, having become the first woman to take charge of a men’s Ligue 1 match in April when she officiated over Amiens against Strasbourg.

"Stéphanie has proved over a number of years that she is one of the best female referees, not just in Europe but across the world," said UEFA chief refereeing officier Roberto Rosetti.

"She has the ability to officiate on the biggest stage, as she proved at this year's Women's World Cup final.

“I hope this match in Istanbul will provide her with yet more experience as she enters the prime of her refereeing career."