A 38-year-old police officer "will become the first woman to referee a top-flight match in Germany next season" after being promoted to the Bundesliga, according to the LONDON TIMES. Bibiana Steinhaus, who is dating former Premier League referee Howard Webb, has been a German FA referee since '99 and "has taken charge of 80 second division matches" since '07. Steinhaus will be the first female referee in Europe's top five leagues. Steinhaus, who is being promoted with three male colleagues, said that she felt "disbelief, delight, joy, relief, curiosity." She said, "For every referee, male or female, it is the goal to officiate in the Bundesliga" (LONDON TIMES, 5/19). The BBC reported Webb, who is now "leading efforts to introduce video technology to Major League Soccer," said that he was "absolutely thrilled to bits" and believes it could "help to inspire more women to reach the top level." He added that he "did not think it would be too long before the Premier League had female officials taking charge of games." Webb: "We have some good female officials in England, more and more are coming through and if they have the ability it shouldn't make any difference if they are male or female" (BBC, 5/19).
