Ferrieri Caputi: Breaking Barriers in Professional Football Refereeing
The landscape of professional football officiating has been fundamentally transformed by the rise of trailblazing officials who challenge traditional gender norms. Among the most prominent figures in this movement is Ferrieri Caputi, an Italian referee whose rapid ascent through the ranks of the Associazione Italiana Arbitri (AIA) has seen her make history across both men's and women's football.
Key Facts
- First woman to referee a Serie A match (Sassuolo vs. Salernitana).
- First female to referee a men's Serie A team in the Coppa Italia.
- First Italian woman to referee an international men's football match.
- IFFHS Best Female Referee of the year (December 2025).
- World Cup Official for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Early Career and Rise Through the Ranks
Ferrieri Caputi began her journey in 2007, affiliating with the AIA section of her hometown, Livorno. Her early years were spent honing her craft in the lower tiers of Italian football, including a notable appointment in November 2015 for the Levito vs. Atletico San Paolo Serie D match.
By 2019, her trajectory shifted toward the international stage. After refereeing the Torneo di Viareggio, she earned her international status, making her debut in a UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifier between Scotland and Cyprus.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Transition to Professional Tiers
After five years of service in Serie D, Ferrieri Caputi was promoted to Serie C in 2020. This period also marked her entry into the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) room for Serie B, a role that utilizes video playback to assist the head referee in making critical decisions. She made her on-field debut in this capacity on December 8, 2020, during a match between Pro Patria and Pro Sesto.
Historic Milestones in Men's Football
The year 2021 served as a turning point for Ferrieri Caputi's career. In October, she debuted in Serie B for the Cittadella vs. SPAL match. Shortly after, on December 15, she officiated the Coppa Italia match between Cagliari and Cittadella, becoming the first woman to referee a men's Serie A team in the competition.
Her momentum continued into 2022 when she was promoted to Serie A on July 1. After serving as the fourth official for Monza vs. Udinese, she achieved a historic milestone on September 28, refereeing the match between Sassuolo and Salernitana. This appointment made her the first woman to ever referee a Serie A match.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]International and All-Female Breakthroughs
In January 2023, Ferrieri Caputi participated in another landmark event: the Coppa Italia match between Napoli and Cremonese. This match featured the first all-female refereeing triad in Italian men's football, consisting of Caputi and assistants Francesca Di Monte and Tiziana Trasciatti.
Her influence extended globally in late March 2023, when she refereed a friendly between Germany and Peru. This achievement established her as the first Italian woman to referee an international match in men's football.
Global Stage and Recognition
Ferrieri Caputi's expertise has been recognized by the world's leading football governing bodies. She was selected as a match official for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Furthermore, she served as the AVAR 2 (Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2) for the 2023 UEFA Women's Champions League final.
In December 2023, she officiated a high-profile Women's Champions League group stage match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, again collaborating with assistants Di Monte and Trasciatti, and Maria Marotta as the fourth official.
Her career reached a pinnacle of professional recognition in December 2025, when the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) elected her as the best female referee of the year.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Career Summary Table
| Year | Achievement/Appointment | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Joined AIA Livorno | Career start |
| 2019 | International Debut | UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifiers |
| 2021 | Cagliari vs. Cittadella (Coppa Italia) | First woman to referee a men's Serie A team |
| 2022 | Sassuolo vs. Salernitana | First woman to referee a Serie A match |
| 2023 | Germany vs. Peru | First Italian woman to referee international men's football |
| 2025 | IFFHS Award | Best female referee of the year |
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Ferrieri Caputi first join the AIA?
She joined the Associazione Italiana Arbitri (AIA) in 2007, affiliating with the section in her native city of Livorno.
What was her first major milestone in Italian men's football?
On December 15, 2021, she became the first female to referee a men's Serie A team during a Coppa Italia match between Cagliari and Cittadella.
Which match made her the first woman to referee a Serie A game?
She achieved this historic feat on September 28, 2022, while refereeing the match between Sassuolo and Salernitana.
Has she officiated at the World Cup level?
Yes, she was included in the list of match officials selected for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand.
What is her highest international honor regarding men's football?
She became the first Italian woman to referee an international men's football match when she officiated the friendly between Germany and Peru in March 2023.