Xie Lijun Makes History as First Female Referee in China to Officiate Men’s Professional Football Leagues
Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, April 14 – Xie Lijun has etched her name in the history books as she became the first female referee in China to officiate in the men’s top professional football leagues. The milestone moment occurred on the 14th during the sixth round of the 2024 Chinese Super League season, where Xie Lijun served as the second assistant referee for the Shanghai Haigang vs Shandong Taishan match.
Born in 1989, Xie Lijun is an esteemed assistant referee of the AFC, with an impressive resume that includes officiating in the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup and the 2024 U20 Women’s Asian Cup finals. She has also been involved in various FIFA events and was the sole Chinese referee on the field during the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Prior to officiating the Women’s World Cup, Xie Lijun passed the rigorous physical fitness test for male referees organized by FIFA.
The Chinese Football Association had implemented measures to enhance the professional standards of referees in domestic professional leagues before the start of the Chinese Super League season. The decision to select exceptional female referees to officiate in men’s professional leagues is part of the association’s effort to innovate and improve the management and supervision of professional league referees.
In recent years, female referees from other countries such as Europe, Japan, and South Korea have been officiating in men’s national and intercontinental youth or professional events, with some even officiating in the Men’s Football World Cup. The Chinese Football Association has also been working towards increasing the participation of female referees in men’s football leagues. Back in 2015, Qin Liang made history as the fourth official of the Chinese Men’s Football Sub-Professional League Chinese League One and as the chief referee for the Chinese League One reserve team games.
Xie Lijun’s groundbreaking achievement signifies a step forward for gender equality in the world of football officiating, and it is a testament to the growing recognition of female referees’ skills and capabilities in the sport.