Victoria Finlay is continuing to make history at this year’s UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championship.
After becoming the first female referee from Northern Ireland to take part in a UEFA final tournament, in the group stages of the WU17 Euros, she has now gone one better: she has been retained to officiate in the semi-finals, which is another first.
Finlay, from Killen in Co Tyrone, was among eight assistant referees chosen for the eight-team tournament, which is currently being held in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
After running the line in the Norway v Spain (0-4), Bosnia v Denmark (0-6) and Germany v Bosnia (2-0) group matches, she has now been appointed to be an assistant referee in the semi-final between Spain and Netherlands.
That game is being staged at Stadion Grbavica in Sarajevo tomorrow (12 May, 8 o’clock start UK time), while the other semi-final between Germany and France is taking place tomorrow in Zenica.
The final is due to be played on Sunday at Stadion Grbavica and Finlay will be hoping to make more history by being appointed to officiate in it.
Grbavica is a stadium well known to Northern Ireland fans. It’s where Northern Ireland won their first ever penalty shootout in an international competition – against Bosnia and Herzegovina back in October 2020. Ian Baraclough’s team won 4-3 on penalties after the game ended 1-1 following extra time to book their spot in a Euro 2020 play-off final.
Trevor Moutray, Head of Refereeing at the Irish Football Association, said he was delighted to see Finlay being retained for the latter stages of the WU17 Euros.
