TOKYO: Japanese referee Yoshimi Yamashita has made history by leading the first all-female trio of referees in a men’s Premier League match in the J.League.

Yamashita rook charge of defending champions Yokohama F. Marinos against Nagoya Grampus, accompanied by assistants Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi.

The Japanese referee became the first woman to officiate a J.League Premier League match last September and was one of three women on the 36-referee roster for the men’s 2022 World Cup.

She did not referee a match in Qatar but was the fourth referee for six matches in the first round.

Yamashita, Bozono and Teshirogi already led the way last year on refereeing a men’s match in the Asian Champions League.

The trio have been listed as referees and assistant referees for this summer’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

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