Bundesliga Gets First Female Referee

Bibiana Steinhaus will become the first woman to officiate a football game in the German Bundesliga when she takes charge of Hertha Berlin against Werder Bremen on Sunday.

A former police officer, Steinhaus has overseen matches in Germany's second tier since the 2007-08 season, but will now be given the opportunity to officiate at the top level at the Olympiastadion.

Steinhaus, 38, was in charge of Bayern Munich's German Cup win over Chemnitz earlier this season. Steinhaus refereed the 2011 women's World Cup final, and was one of four new officials added to the Bundesliga list at the end of last season.

She said “It has always been my dream to be a Bundesliga referee, that this dream will come true naturally fills me with joy. Of course, I'm aware that I will be the first female referee in the Bundesliga and, especially at the beginning of the new season, will face particular attention from the public and the media.”