Page 3 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.33 2021-22

Vikki makes NI history

The senior women’s team are not the only females from Northern Ireland who will be involved
in a UEFA final tournament this year.
Before the girls in green and white head for England in July for their first major
tournament (UEFA Women’s Euro 2022) a referee from Co Tyrone will also be making history.
Vikki Finlay actually entered the history books this week when she became the first
female referee from Northern Ireland to take part in a UEFA final tournament.
Vikki, who comes from the village of Killen, near Castlederg, is among eight assistant
referees who have been chosen to officiate at the Women’s U17 Euro finals, which are being
held in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 3-15 May.
After successfully passing a fitness assessment, the Tyrone woman ran the line at the
Norway v Spain group match at the Gradski Stadion in Mostar on Tuesday night.
The other officials for the game were Michele Schmolzer from Switzerland (referee),
Romanian Daniela Constantinescu (assistant referee) and Bosnian Tanja Racic (fourth official).
Trevor Moutray, Head of Refereeing at the Irish Football Association, said: “This is the
first time that an Irish FA female match official has been appointed to a UEFA final
tournament. It’s something to be proud of and a great good news story for female match
officials here.”
The UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championship is back after being cancelled for
the last two seasons due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The teams participating in this year’s
tournament are:
Group A - hosts Bosnia and Herzegovina, holders Germany, Denmark, Netherlands;
Group B – France, Spain, Norway, Finland.
The revitalised competition was re-started at the start of this season with a new format
in place. Nations were split into two tiered leagues - similar to the UEFA Nations League - and
competed for promotion and relegation in the spring, with the League A group winners in
round 2 qualifying for the Finals. The new format guarantees teams, including the host nation
who also take part, five or six competitive matches per season against similarly ranked sides
and is aimed at encouraging young women to keep playing the game.
All of the first round of group matches were played on Tuesday and in the match
officiated by Vikki, Spain ran out 4-0 winners with goals from Carla Camacho, Victoria Lopez,
Laia Martret and Lucia Corrales.
France meanwhile defeated Finland 2-0 in the other Group B game and in Group A, the
Netherlands made a fast start by beating hosts Bosnia & Herzegovina 8-0, which included a
hat-trick from Fieke Kroese. Reigning Champions Germany also started well, winning 4-0
against Denmark.
Anita calling it a day

This Sunday will see the end of an era in the women’s game, with the news that Anita Asante
has announced her retirement at the end of the season.
The 37-year-old was the last remaining player from the starting line-up for Arsenal when
they became the only English team to date to be crowned Champions of Europe, beating a
star-studded Umea IK in the Final (Gilly Flaherty, Rebecca Spencer and Gemma Davison were
all on the bench for both legs).
Anita went on to join Chelsea and after spells in the United States and Sweden, most
notably with FC Rosengard, before a return to Chelsea in 2018 and then on to Aston Villa,
where she will finish her career this Sunday.
She made her full England debut against Iceland in 2004 and was a member of the squad
which were runners-up in Euro 2009, against as the Team GB squad for the London Olympics
in 2012. She would undoubtedly have won more than 71 caps for her country had it not been
for a series of injuries.
Issue no. 33 - 5 May 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk