Assistant referee Massey-Ellis retires to take FA role
Assistant referee Sian Massey‑Ellis announces her retirement from officiating to take up a position with the Football Association.
Sian Massey-Ellis, a trailblazing assistant referee, has announced her retirement from officiating to take on a senior managerial role with the Football Association. During her illustrious career, Massey-Ellis officiated in over 150 Premier League matches and made history as the second woman to achieve this in the Premier League.
She became the first Englishwoman to officiate a men's European fixture and the first woman to handle a men's FA Cup final. Massey-Ellis also officiated in five Women's FA Cup finals and represented England at four UEFA Women's Euro tournaments and the 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cups.
Massey-Ellis expressed her gratitude for her journey, stating that her greatest achievement is inspiring others to believe they belong in the game. With her retirement, she will focus on supporting and developing female officials, giving something back to the sport that has significantly contributed to her life.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport Football's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
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