Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg says Rebecca Welch’s promotion to the top flight is not a gimmick, and has welcomed Howard Webb’s drive for greater levels of inclusion.
Welch, from Washington, will become the first female to take charge of a Premier League game when she oversees Burnley’s trip to Fulham on December 23.
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Clattenburg, who also hails from the north east, told the Daily Mail: “This news is long overdue, and having known Rebecca Welch for close to a decade, this could not happen to a more deserving referee.
“The Premier League have lagged behind others in making this move. Stephanie Frappart has been used in France’s Ligue 1 and Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi has been used in Italy’s Serie A.
“Howard Webb was in charge of the MLS in the United States when the whistle was handed to Tori Penso.
“It is good to see Webb bringing this inclusion to the Premier League now that he is head of the PGMOL. But this is no token gesture. Welch has earned it.
“Like all of us who officiated in the world’s most elite league, she worked her way up from the very bottom by putting in the hard yards.”
Webb has been keen to diversify the pool of referees and Sam Allison will become the first black referee to take charge of a Premier League game in 15 years when he oversees the game between Sheffield United and Luton on Boxing Day.
