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Al Rayyan (Qatar): Japanese Yoshimi Yamashita will script history on Saturday during India vs Australia football match in the AFC Asian Cup 2024 when she becomes the first woman referee ever to officiate a match in the tournament’s history. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed Yamashita’s appointment on Thursday. Yamashita will be supported by assistant referees Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi during the Group B encounter at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. The iconic Japanese trio had earlier made histories as the first all-women referees to oversee matches in the AFC Cup (2019), AFC Champions League (2022) and J1 League (2023).
Born and raised in Tokyo, Yamashita was the first woman to manage a J1 League match in September 2022. Thereafter she went to break several barriers and was one of the six women referees at the FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar in 2022. In the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, Yamashita was the main referee for the opening game. During the same tournament she officiated in two more games and served as a fourth official in another couple of games.
It was her second FIFA Women’s World Cup after making debut in 2019 in France. She also had the opportunity to be a part of Olympic Games when Yamashita was one of the officials at the 2021 event at home.
🇯🇵 Yoshimi Yamashita to become first woman referee in #AsianCup history!
The Japanese official will take charge of Group B fixture between Australia and India on January 13! #AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia https://t.co/LmxuEqYS9c
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 11, 2024
India will start as clear underdogs against Australia on Saturday. Eliminated in the group stage in their last two appearances in 2011 and 2019, India face an uphill task this time also, as they have been clubbed with Australia, Uzbekistan and Syria in Group B. The match starts 5 PM IST.
A knockout round berth will be a huge achievement for India, who are making their fifth appearance in the Asian Cup, after coming close in the last edition in 2019, and especially for Sunil Chhetri, who will be playing for the last time in the prestigious tournament.
The 39-year-old talisman will be playing in his third Asian Cup, after his 2011 and 2019 campaigns, having scored four goals in six matches, the most by an Indian. India have come into the tournament with the best available squad, after three key players — defender Anwar Ali, defensive midfielder Jeakson Singh and nippy winger Ashique Kuruniyan — missed out due to injuries.
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