Rebecca Welch made history as the first female referee in the Premier League, and earned the respect of both managers after she oversaw Burnley’s 2-0 victory over Fulham.
Vincent Kompany, the Burnley boss, was full of praise for Welch, as he congratulated her warmly at the final whistle, eliciting a radiant smile from the trailblazing official. “I wanted to congratulate her because it’s not just about the performance, it’s a big moment,” said Kompany. “And I said when you’re in the game, it’s not about the ref, it’s about the players, not about the coach. But after the game, it’s fair to say that this is a landmark moment and may there be many more. The best thing will always be when people are judged on merit, but you have to have a first. Well done, I am happy to be a part of this moment.”
Marco Silva, the defeated manager, was brief and blunt when asked to comment on Welch’s officiating. “Normal performance,” he said, without making any fuss about the refereeing. Instead, he bemoaned his team’s lacklustre second-half display.
In a game devoid of any VAR drama, Welch showed three yellow cards, two to Fulham and one to Burnley, in a game that propelled Kompany’s side out of the relegation zone, following their third win of the Premier League season. “We have to live for those moments,” said the Belgian. “The key part is players growing. It takes time.”
Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge both unleashed thunderous shots from distance as Burnley seized control of the game at the start of the second half. Kompany said: “Fulham created chances in the first half, but in the key moments we remained calm, especially in the second half, and that helped with the performance. That gave us a chance. We have had a lot of good performances, but it is the results that give you the reward.
“The players managed the game so well, not me. I take the blame when it goes wrong – so I have to give them credit. These players will only get better.”
“We have never really been short of confidence as a team,” said James Trafford, the goalkeeper who was superb in a first half where Burnley were under siege. “We believe in the whole process. The performances have been there and it was only a matter of time before the results came.” Silva said: “We were not close enough at this level, and we were punished. In the first half we were the best team on the pitch. We dominated the game. We should have scored, but then we started the second half in the worst way. We didn’t perform. For their second goal, their player ran 30 yards without opposition. We have to react now.”
