On the evening of April 14, the Chinese Super League Shanghai Harbor played against Shandong Taishan at home. Women’s international assistant referee Xie Lijun served as the second assistant referee. She also became the first domestic female referee to officiate in the top professional league of men’s football.
Xie Lijun is an elite assistant referee of the AFC. She has refereed many FIFA events and is the only Chinese referee in the 2023 Women's World Cup. After the game, in an interview with the media, the Sichuan girl revealed that her past experience had given her good physical fitness, and she also made it her goal to enforce the men's World Cup.
Xie Lijun stepped onto the court before the game.
This is a new starting point
From the moment she stepped onto the Pudong football field, Xie Lijun became the focus of media attention, and the broadcasters gave her a lot of shots before the game. She was very serious during the warm-up process, but her eyes were not nervous and she looked relatively relaxed. She, who is from Sichuan, revealed that she has been paying attention to the development of the Chinese Professional League over the years and often went to watch games in Chengdu Chengdu.
"Before coming here, I took out the previous games of Shanghai SIPG and Taishan to watch. I focused on analyzing their technical and tactical play, and made a plan in advance. After all, the rhythm of the men's professional league is It’s different, so I have to be fully prepared in all aspects.”
Xie Lijun said that she was still a little nervous before the game started, “but when the whistle sounded, all my attention and concentration were on the game. , the tension disappeared. I believe that I have reached a new starting point, and the future direction is clearer.”
Xie Lijun and two members of the World Cup and Asian Cup final referee teams, Ma Ning and Shi Xiang, refereed this game. , "When we do preparation activities together, I feel more of a sense of honor. I am quite happy and happy to be able to stand on the field with them."
Xie Lijun revealed that she also had a meeting with Ma Ning before the game Communication, "I told Teacher Ma Ning that I was still a little nervous. He told me to treat it as a normal game. And I believe that having him there can give me more confidence, and he did give me Great encouragement, support and help.”
In the highlight match between Shanghai Haigang and Shandong Taishan, Xie Lijun (first from the right), the first female referee in the Chinese Super League, was also the focus.
Regarding her own law enforcement, Xie Lijun gave an evaluation of 7.5 points. In her opinion, "There is indeed a physical and confrontational gap between the men's football game and the women's football game itself. In addition, the Chinese Super League is more mature in terms of technology and tactics. So when it comes to making technical predictions like fouls on this field, it is actually clearer than in women’s competitions.”
Xie Lijun believes that her advantage is physical fitness, “Actually, I have a foundation in track and field, and I have lived in the mountains since I was a child. , I often have the habit of climbing and running, so I am still relatively confident in my physical fitness.”
Former Women’s World Cup assistant referee and female referee who has officiated at the U20 Women’s World Cup four times also witnessed this historic moment. It was revealed that " female referees officiating men's matches have not only received the support of Football Association leaders, but also the support and appeal of men's international referees. At the national women's football referee work summary meeting in December last year, Golden Whistle Ma Ning Express support for capable women’s football referees to officiate in men’s top leagues. For example, Xie Lijun has officiated in the last Women’s World Cup and is a candidate for the next Women’s World Cup. She already has the ability to officiate in men’s top leagues , so if she Willing to enforce the law in the Super League, Ma Ning is willing to take the lead in firing the first shot of reform. "
"It is precisely because of various factors and promotions that today's highly anticipated historical moment has occurred, allowing the audience present today to watch in front of the TV and everywhere. The fans in front of the big platform enjoyed a landmark event. "
Xie Lijun was in the game.
I hope more female referees will participate in men's football law enforcement
In recent years, it has become increasingly normal for outstanding female referees from Europe, Japan and South Korea to referee national and intercontinental men's youth or professional events at all levels. There are also women in the men's football World Cup. The figure of the referee.The Chinese Football Association has also been making relevant efforts. As early as 2015, Qin Liang served as the fourth official of the Chinese Men's Football Sub-Professional League Chinese League One and the chief referee of the Chinese League One reserve team games.
However, this is the first time that female referees have participated in law enforcement in the top men's football league. This game between Haigang and Taishan is still a strong dialogue. Xie Lijun's good performance throughout the game will also encourage more female referees to move towards higher-level competitions. Determination.
"It is now a trend for female referees to officiate men's matches. When we go out, we will face European teams. There is still a certain gap between our Chinese referees and European referees. For example, the female referees of the Premier League go to men's matches The competition has become the norm, and I also believe that the Chinese Football Association has a very clear idea in training female referees. In the future, more female referees will participate in our men's competitions."
Xie Lijun. She revealed that she would also share her experience of officiating in the World Cup and other intercontinental competitions with other female colleagues, " Europe is indeed the norm for female referees to officiate men's events, and their level is getting higher and higher. Then , We want to break out of Asia and go to the World Cup, so we need to lay a good foundation in such men's football matches. "
As the first person to enforce the men's football top league, Xie Lijun said that she also hopes to have more. More female referees can participate in the Women's World Cup and men's football matches. "I suggest that everyone watch more men's football matches to really feel our matches and be fully prepared on a daily basis. I believe that one day there will be more Women's referees have come to men's events, and have broken out of Asia to stand on the stage of the World Cup. "
The Chinese Football Association has also arranged a high-quality team for Xie Lijun's Chinese Super League law enforcement. "Old Master" Sun Baojie serves as the referee supervisor and is responsible for refereeing this game. The law enforcement team scored, and the law enforcement referee team also conducted a law enforcement summary after the game. Fang Yan, who has also transformed into a referee lecturer and referee supervisor this year, believes that " is similar to us female referees in terms of techniques and tactics, but it still poses certain challenges. After all, male referees are stronger and faster. The pace of men's competitions will be faster. For female referees, they must be prepared in this area to have the ability. I believe Xie Lijun has also done a lot of hard training, because she is not only a referee. A female referee is also a mother of a child. During this process, she has to face a lot of injuries and challenges during her recovery.”
Xie Lijun (left)
looks forward to law enforcement at the Men’s Football World Cup
Public information. It shows that Xie Lijun, who was born in 1989, is an elite assistant referee of the AFC. She has refereed the 2022 Women's Asian Cup and the 2024 U20 Women's Asian Cup finals. She has also refereed many FIFA events. She is the 2023 Women's Football Association The only Chinese referee in the World Cup. Before refereeing the 2023 Women's World Cup, she has passed the standard physical fitness test for male referees organized by FIFA.
Talking about her journey as a referee, Xie Lijun said that she had never been exposed to football since she was a child. "When I went to college, I practiced track and field. I had better physical fitness and deportment. I happened to meet a football teacher, and the Sichuan Football Association was making great efforts. Looking for female referees as a backup force. Therefore, I embarked on the path of learning football referees."
Since then, Xie Lijun has taken football as her speciality. "I also participated in playing football in my daily studies. My growth as a referee is also helpful. "
" I will complete the refereeing work for the Women's World Cup in 2023. Then, I will look forward to the 2027 World Cup and be able to stand on the stage of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. , a female referee has appeared, and she said so on the topic of whether she wants to officiate the men's football World Cup.
"I will definitely look forward to it, but the clearest goal at the moment is the 2027 Women's World Cup. Because now Asia has requirements for us, the first step is to pass the men's physical test, and the second step is to participate in the men's top level In the league.Then, my next goal is to participate in Asian men's events. "
