Soccer Aid will have an all-female team of referees for the first time with Abigail Byrne set to take charge of the game while Georgia Ball and Nicoleta Bria will be her assistants and Jane Sims will be the fourth official
- Soccer Aid set to have an all-female referee team for the first time
- Abigail Byrne will take charge of Sunday’s charity match at Old Trafford
- Georgia Ball and Nicoleta Bria will be assistants with Jane Sims as fourth official
Soccer Aid will have an all-female referee team for the first time with top official Abigail Byrne set to take charge of Sunday’s game at Old Trafford.
Byrne is one of four Women’s Super League officials involved in the game.
Georgia Ball and Nicoleta Bria will serve as Byrne’s assistants while Jane Sims will serve as her fourth official.
There will be no VAR and the game will go straight to a penalty shootout if the result is a full-time draw.
Byrne was promoted to elite level refereeing in 2015 and has operated in the WSL since 2016.
Abigail Byrne will lead an all-female referee team for Sunday’s Soccer Aid match
Former Lionesses star Jill Scott to captain England at Soccer Aid
She also took charge of the women’s FA Cup final in 2019.
Soccer Aid, which raises money for UNICEF, will see England face a Rest of the World XI.
Former Lionesses and Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott captains the England team, while recently retired Izzy Christiansen is also one of the ex-pros involved.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes will co-manage with Harry Redknapp.
As well as former footballers, a number of celebrities are involved, with the England team featuring Liam Payne and actor Tom Hiddlestone while the Rest of the World team includes former Manchester United stars Nani and Patrice Eva.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes will co-lead England with Harry Redknapp and Stormzy
