A woman with a whistle
“Laughs are sometimes annoying, but I quickly reframe these guys”
At 21, Sara Gjergji is one of the rare female referees in Geneva. She wants to take advantage of the craze around the female euro to arouse vocations.
At the age of 21, Sara Gjergji has great ambitions in arbitration. She wants to take advantage of her model role to inspire other young referees, especially via social networks.
Marie-Lou Dumauthio/Tamedia
- Sara Gjergji is one of the only women’s referees in Geneva amateur football.
- The 21 -year -old young referee must undergo sexist remarks and sometimes degrading comments.
- Romande wants to break the clichés and inspire other women to exercise its passion, in particular thanks to social networks.
“What is she doing on the ground, she should rather be dishes.” “Why do you make up?” “Wow, you’re feminine for a referee!” Here are the kind of remarks heard by Sara Gjergji, one of the rare female referees in Geneva: “And then on my back, I dare not imagine …” But these sexist and misogynist words will not stop her promising career as a referee. Nor the sometimes degrading comments of junior parents.
“In refereeing, it’s as if nothing touched me, I can keep my head cool and stay focused in my match, even if I condemn these words,” said the Geneva. You can come and chat with me calmly, explain your frustration, but I can’t stand that I am shouting on it. There, I become severe. “
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At the whistle for three years, the young woman of 21 was the only referee of Geneva amateur football and has just been joined by a sister recently. “As a woman, you have to make your place. You have to do more than men and we’re going to put your least mistake on your kind’s account, lets go of the one who arbitrates the juniors among boys and until the second inter -female league. There are still surprised looks and sometimes laughs when I come to check the names in the locker room. It is sometimes embarrassing, but I quickly reframe these guys! ”
Inspired by his father, a former professional footballer in Albania, who also arbitrated, Sara Gjergji is supported by her family. “They are proud of me and often tell me that I am perfect for this job, because I am hyperely towards myself, very meticulous and very direct.” We guess this natural authority in his voice and narration.
Inspire other young female referees
“I sometimes let arbitration influence my way of speaking in ordinary life and cropping people in a fairly strict way, laughs the young woman, seated on the terrace of the stadium of Varembé, close to where she lives. I taught a lot of the whistle, to apprehend situations, as to calm tensions before it degenerates. And I gained confidence in myself. “
Also attacker at FC Plan-les-Ouates (3e League), the official discusses, tries to make the player understand that he committed a fault before brandishing his box. “But I have to start a hit more and more by going up in the categories, because dialogue becomes more difficult than with children,” explains the footballer.
Before the euro, Sara Gjergji arbitrated international influencer matches in order to promote competition in Switzerland.
Marie-Lou Dumauthio/Tamedia
Sara Gjergji wants to arouse vocations thanks to his passion. “I put myself in the place of these football pioneers who were invisible, I can display it on social networks, to shed light on my fight and it’s easier to have support, let go of Romande. We see it with the female Euro in Switzerland, This is normal for little girls to play football. To encourage women’s stars at the stadium. I am only 21 years old, but I had no model. I would like the same for arbitration: Let us normalize having women in the whistle without finding this exceptional.»
Influencer for Geneva Tourism
And the Geneva is determined to break the clichés. “We have an image of the strict and untouchable referee, but we remain human beings, so there is no reason that women do not occupy this function, simply emphasizes the Plo player. It would take more women in the arbitration commissions to change the dynamics in the hierarchy. A men-female balance would be beneficial for the environment. “
Last September, a First introductory course Reserved exclusively for young women’s referees (13 to 20 years old) took place in Geneva. “Learning surrounded by other girls, it will help those who are still afraid to get started,” says Sara Gjergji, who was recently invited by Geneva Tourisme to arbitrate international influencer matches in order to promote The female euro.
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“I love to communicate, take photos and videos, so I support the steps that make it possible to make the voice of women’s football heard,” adds the 21 -year -old referee.
At the Euro, Sara Gjergji is bound to have her eyes on the referees, with the dream of a day being in their place. “I advance at my own pace, without pressure, but arbitrate at Camp Nou, in the stadium of FC Barcelona that I admire, is in a corner of my head.” His words betray his passion. And its immense ambition.
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