Yoshimi Yamashita may have made history as the first woman to officiate a J. League game, but she¡¯s confident she¡¯ll be far from the last.
The 35-year-old oversaw Sunday¡¯s third-division encounter between YSCC Yokohama and Tegevajaro Miyazaki, becoming the latest in a growing global trend of female referees in men¡¯s competitions.
¡°In order to get this opportunity I needed the understanding of the Japan Football Association, the J. League, the teams and the players, as well as all of the trust I¡¯d built with my fellow referees across the country, and I felt that responsibility very keenly,¡± Yamashita said on Monday.
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