Sapir Berman: Breaking Barriers as Football’s First Transgender International Referee

Israeli referee Sapir Berman described the moment she stepped onto the pitch as the first transgender woman to officiate an international football match as the day her “dream came true, Sport360NG reports.

The 31-year-old, who oversaw a Women’s Under-17 European Championship qualifier between Northern Ireland and Montenegro in March, said the achievement brought together two lifelong ambitions.

“I always wanted to be a woman, and I always wanted to be a referee,” Berman told AFP. “When those two things finally came together, it was pure joy. It felt powerful, uplifting, like I was finally doing the right thing and showing the world what’s possible.”

Hiding Her Identity

Berman grew up in a football-loving household and played as a defender for nearly a decade from childhood. But she often felt forced to conceal her identity.
“From the age of five, I knew I wanted to be a girl,” she said. “But when I started playing football, I realised those two dreams, being a woman and being involved in the sport, didn’t fit together. So, I hid who I really was for 26 years.”

When her playing career didn’t progress, she joined Israel’s referees association and worked her way up to officiate in the Premier League. Yet, even as her career advanced, she struggled with the secret she carried.

The Covid-19 lockdown became a turning point. “I asked myself: ‘Is this what life will always look like?’ That’s when I decided to come out,” she explained.

Facing Challenges

Initially, Berman feared her decision would end her refereeing career. But with encouragement from her brother and support from the referees’ association, she continued.
Still, the journey wasn’t without setbacks. Hormone therapy left her frustrated, and she failed two fitness tests, forcing her to drop down a division. “Off the field I felt incredible, but on it I thought I’d ruined my career,” she admitted.

Through persistence, help from a sports psychologist, and determination, she returned stronger. Earlier this year, she earned her international referee badge, and now dreams of taking charge of matches at the Champions League, European Championship, or World Cup.

Beyond the Whistle

While Berman has made history, her journey comes amid broader debates over transgender participation in sport. Earlier this year, England’s FA ruled transgender women ineligible for women’s football.

Berman, however, believes governing bodies must find a way forward. “Human beings are made of many different layers,” she said. “Rejecting someone for just one reason ignores everything else, mental, financial, social, or family challenges also shape performance.”

On the pitch, she has noticed acceptance. “Fans still curse me, but now they do it in the feminine form,” she joked. “It felt like a kind of recognition, that they see me as I really am.”

Off the pitch, young people have approached her to say her story inspired them. “That fills me with strength,” Berman said. “At the end of the day, I chose to be myself, and that makes all the difference.”