Casey Reibelt is set to join an exclusive club this weekend as she prepares to become just the second female referee to officiate in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Reibelt will be the first female to referee in the A-League Men this season when the Queenslander oversees Saturday’s clash between Perth Glory and Western Sydney Wanderers, while South Korea’s Park Mi-Suk will make her first ALM appearance as assistant referee in the Brisbane Roar-Central Coast Mariners contest on May 3.
An AFC and FIFA referee, Reibelt will join Kate Jacewicz in the exclusive club after the latter became the first Australian woman to officiate a men’s fixture during the Melbourne City-Newcastle Jets fixture in 2019-20.
Reibelt was also the central referee for the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup final between South Korea and China in India.
“The appointment of Casey and Mi Suk to the A-League Men competition strengthens our commitment to ensuring that the match official pathway is open to everyone in football,” said Football Australia’s Head of Referees Nathan Magill.
“Football Australia wants to be at the forefront of removing barriers for talented match officials who aspire to officiate in elite competitions in Australian football.
“Both Casey and Mi Suk have demonstrated significant commitment and high performance across an extended period, and these appointments are just rewards.”
Reibelt, Jacewicz, assistant referees Sarah Ho and Joanna Charaktis and video match official Lara Lee are currently appointed to the Isuzu UTE A-League match officials panels and are undertaking the candidate process to officiate at next year’s Women’s World Cup.
