Park Mi-suk makes her mark on Korean referee history

Assistant referee Park Mi-suk, far left, ahead of a men’s A-League match between Brisbane Roar and the Central Coast Mariners on Tuesday [YONHAP]

FIFA assistant referee Park Mi-suk became the first Korean woman to officiate an international men's professional football league match.

Park ran the line during the Australian 2021-22 Isuzu UTE A-League on Tuesday night when Brisbane Roar hosted the Central Coast Mariners.

Female referees have officiated some K League matches and international women's matches in the past but this is the first time that a Korean female referee has officiated a professional league match overseas.

Park is a veteran referee of 20 years, having become a referee in 2002 and an international referee in 2011. In 2013, she became the first female referee to officiate the K League Challenge, currently called the K League 2, alongside assistant referee Kim Kyung-min.

She moved to Australia in 2018 and has been an assistant referee at the top level of football in the country — the A-League women's competition — ever since.

"It's a honor to be a part of the top league in Australia," Park said after Tuesday's match.

"I was nervous because it was my first time officiating a men's match. I tried to keep calm, thinking that a match is a match. I needed time to figure out the tide of the match but I was comfortable after a while."

Alongside Park, Australian referee Casey Reibelt became the second female referee ever to officiate a men’s A-League match after overseeing Saturday night’s game between Perth Glory and the Western Sydney Wanderers. Kate Jacewicz became the first woman referee to officiate a men's match in the 2019-20 season when she oversaw a game between Melbourne City and the Newcastle Jets.

“The appointment of Casey and Mi-Suk to the A-League men's competition strengthens our commitment to ensuring that the match official pathway is open to everyone in football,” Football Australia referees boss Nathan Magill told news.com.au.

“Both Casey and Mi-Suk have demonstrated significant commitment and high performance across an extended period, and these appointments are just rewards. The female match officials in our panel are highly experienced and incredibly successful professionals [...] We are steadfast in our vision to make Australia a leader in the development of female match officials in the Asia-Pacific region."

Park's ultimate goal is to be involved in next year's FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

"I am glad that I did my job without any problems," Park added.

"I will work harder to be able to get my opportunity at the Women's World Cup next year in Australia and New Zealand."

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]