Berman, 31, made history when she officiated the UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship qualifier between Northern Ireland and Montenegro in Belfast. While England’s Lucy Clark became the first trans woman to referee a match in 2018, Berman’s appointment marks the first time a transgender woman has taken the whistle on an international stage under UEFA.

“I always wanted to be a woman, and I always wanted to be a football referee,” Berman told AFP in an emotional interview. “And then those two came together and fused into one dream that just exploded with joy.”

“It’s an uplifting, powerful feeling, the feeling that I’m doing the right thing, that I’m choosing myself, that I’m showing the world it’s possible,” she said.

Berman’s connection to football began early. Growing up in a football-loving family, she played as a defender from the age of five for over a decade. But even then, she carried a secret.

“Since I was five, I remember wanting to be a girl. But when I started playing football, I realised that being a woman and playing football didn’t seem to go together,” she said. “So I decided to hide who I was and just keep playing. I hid myself for almost 26 years,” she added.

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When her professional playing ambitions didn’t pan out, Berman transitioned into refereeing. She steadily rose through the ranks to officiate in Israel’s top-tier men’s league, all while concealing her identity.

Berman is setting her sights higher with aspirations to officiate in the Champions League, European Championship, or even the FIFA World Cup.

Her message to others is simple yet profound: “Choose yourself.”

Source: Punch