NEWS

Five Japanese women have been appointed to officiate in the upcoming FIFA Women’s Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups next month.

Referee Etsuko Fukano and assistant referee Saori Takahashi have been selected to officiate at the Women’s Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand from October 28 to November 16.
Referee Sachiko Baba will team up with assistant referees Shiho Ayukai and Satomi Hamasaki in the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Chile from November 19 to December 7, becoming the first Japanese officials to work as a trio in a FIFA tournament.
“I’m surprised with this appointment as it was not expected,” said Fukano, who will make her first appearance in a FIFA World Cup following her experience at the Olympic qualifiers, the EAFF Women’s Championship and AFC Under-19 Women’s Championship, all in 2007.
Fukano, 36, said, “I think this comes from the hard work done by our predecessors and the good achievements by the Nadeshiko Japan [at the Beijing Olympics]. I’d like to do my best together with Ms. Takahashi as another Japan national team.”
For Baba, this will be her first FIFA tournament, too. She previously officiated mostly in Asian tournaments such as the 2003 Asian Women’s Championship and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup earlier this year, and also in the Universiade in 2003 and 2007.
“I’m feeling grateful and also surprised to have been given this opportunity to take part in this tournament,” said the 34-year-old Baba. “I’d like to set my focus on helping the players fully show their abilities in the game.”