Female referee says women calm football matches and earn more respect

On Sunday night, as World Cup coverage continued, the Israeli sports show "Fathi and Shai" hosted three women who approach football from different angles: women’s Premier League player Ella Bebila, Argentina fan Rachel Efrimov, and attorney and football referee Mital Gabai. Gabai used the appearance to challenge stereotypes about women in officiating and to explain how she entered the profession.

Gabai said the number of women in refereeing has grown, and argued that women on the pitch help lower tensions rather than fuel ego-driven clashes. "Women on the field calm things down, and do not get drawn into ego issues," she said. She also said players tend to show her more respect because she is a woman. "When I walk onto the pitch they say, 'Wow, how nice,' and they take a step back," she said, joking, "Maybe they curse inside."

Gabai, who is a lawyer by profession, said she came into refereeing through an unusual route when the Israel Bar Association partnered with the Israel Football Association and opened a special course for lawyers. She also referred to a recent incident in which a player was sent off for the first time after hiding his mouth, saying the new rule is meant to prevent insults and racist remarks on the field.

The hosts later tested the guests on football terms. When asked to explain offside, Gabai gave the most inventive answer, comparing it to standing in a Zara checkout line and someone in front handing a shirt to another person and saying, "Pay for me."