Stephanie Frappart: Liverpool and Chelsea support referee ahead of 'historic' Uefa Super Cup tie

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Tom Doyle13 August 2019

Jurgen Klopp and Frank Lampard has both given referee Stephanie Frappart their backing with the female official set to make history in Wednesday's Uefa Super Cup final.

Champions League holders Liverpool take on Europa League winners Chelsea in Istanbul on Tuesday and Frenchwoman Frappart, 35, will become the first woman to take charge of a major men's Uefa cup final.

Frappart, who has officiated in numerous Ligue 1 games in France, will be assisted by Italy's Manuela Nicolosi and Ireland's Michelle O'Neill - the same trio which took charge of the Women's World Cup final in June.

Speaking in Tuesday's pre-match press conferences, Klopp and Lampard lent their full support to Frappart - as did Liverpool duo Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk.

Klopp said of Frappart's appointment: "My answer would be: finally. I think it is time it happens. I have not a lot of experience with female referees. In Germany, Bibiana Steinhaus is doing them and it took a while until she was considered to be ready.

AFP/Getty Images

"Not by the professionals, more by the referees. Now she is settled and that’s really good. I am happy we can be part of that historical moment. I think there are still so many things in the world out there that we are obviously not smart enough to make the right decision, so it is a very, very smart decision that we can finally bring a woman to be the referee of a very, very important game, a big game in front of millions of people.

"We all, I am pretty sure – with all the emotions involved – will try to help tomorrow night and not to make it more difficult than a game is itself anyway. It’s the first one so maybe that makes it a bit more special but I hope it’s not the last one, that’s all I can say."

Lampard said: "It's great news. I'm very pleased to be a part of this moment in history.

"The game has come on a long way in many ways, in terms of the Womens' World Cup which we all watched this summer and showed how much respect the women's game is getting.

"We're trying to make strides and there's a long way to go but tomorrow will be a huge moment because it's one more step in the right direction."

In Pictures | USA vs Netherlands, Women's World Cup Final | 07/07/2019

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Two of Klopp star players, Mane and Van Dijk, were also behind Frappart's selection, with the former saying: "I think it will be no different probably. They (Uefa) took the right decision, for sure. She deserves to be here.

"For us it's more important to be on the pitch and to just concentrate on ourselves."

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Van Dijk added: "I think gender is irrelevant. If the quality is there, and it is there because otherwise she wouldn't get appointed for this game, then it doesn't really matter.

"If you look at her CV as well, I think she has been doing so many good games, they probably made the right decision and what I said before, gender doesn't matter at all."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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