Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi made history as the first female referee in Serie A history in Sassuolo-Salernitana. She commented on his top league debut to Corriere dello Sport.
“It was fantastic, and I didn’t truly believe it until I got on the pitch. I haven’t had the opportunity to catch my breath and enjoy it yet. It’s up to the designator Gianluca Rocchi to assess my performance. I think I could have had a better angle on the PK, but I liked my positioning overall, even though you are never fully satisfied with it.”
Ferrieri Caputi expounded on his habits.
“I study myself whenever I get videos with acceptable resolution, which aren’t always available in the lower leagues. It’s the only way to improve rapidly. There weren’t cell phones or anything when I started. We used to record each other.”
“I’ve always followed football and sports in general. I took a refereeing course in college, and I didn’t quit after a year and a half like others did. It was a passion and a way to have a healthy social net at first, plus it earned you a little money.”
Ferrieri Caputo detailed the difficulties he endured.
“I had to work on my physical skills in the early going, because I wasn’t running like I am today. It’s an issue that almost made me quit. You have to give up many things for this job. For instance, I didn’t have go on Erasmus. While it’s too early for me, having a child would be a choice. We need to improve on that. There are matters and sacrifices men don’t have to think about. Some colleagues had to plan their maternity around the top competitions. You lose its naturality in such way.”
“I don’t like the spotlight and never worried about it. I hope to be judged as a referee and not for my gender. It would the sign of an evolved society. I feel like a pioneer, or better the last runner of a relay race, as I brought the baton to the finish line.”
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