- For the first time, a match during the continent's most important national team tournament will be officiated on the field by an all-female referee trio.
- CONMEBOL provides significant support to female refereeing, marking a step forward in the quest for equality.
The South American Football Confederation, through its Referee Commission, has appointed Brazilians Edina Alves and Neuza Back, along with Colombian Mary Blanco, as the main trio to officiate the match between Bolivia and Panama during the Group Stage of the CONMEBOL Copa América™ USA 2024.
The presence of women was confirmed in a historic call at CONMEBOL Copa América™ USA 2024, and all have appeared in previous designations, but this will be their first time as central referees.
Also noteworthy are the assistant roles of Mary Penso (USA, Referee); Brooke Mayo (USA, Assistant); Kathryn Nesbitt (USA, Assistant); and Tatiana Guzmán (NIC, VAR) from CONCACAF.
Appointments:
Referee: Edina Alves (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Neuza Back (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Mary Blanco (COL)
The milestone began in 2021 when Alves and Back officiated the match between Defensa y Justicia and Independiente del Valle in the Group Stage of the CONMEBOL Libertadores men's tournament.
Both Brazilian referees have considerable experience, including being part of the first female designation for the Men's Club World Cup in Qatar, where South Americans led the way towards equality.
Alves has a distinguished career, starting in refereeing in 2000 and rising through the ranks to officiate in tournaments such as the Women's World Cup, including the 2019 edition in France, where she refereed the USA vs. England semifinal.
For Mary Blanco, this will be her second opportunity in a men's tournament, following her presence in a CONMEBOL Libertadores match. The CONMEBOL referees have received extensive preparation, thanks to numerous courses and workshops provided by the Referee Commission.
This commitment has been undertaken by CONMEBOL since 2016, aiming at the development and professionalization of more women both on and off the field, promoting gender equality in football and providing more opportunities for decision-making and participation in various tournaments.
