Premier League assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis has urged fans to view women in football as deserving of their roles instead of using outdated stereotypes about them being there "as a tick box".
Speaking from personal experience on International Women's Day, she outlined some of the gender-related vitriol she's encountered in response to doing her job. She said she hopes to contribute to an atmosphere where the next generation of women feel more comfortable around the game.
Massey-Ellis has patrolled Premier League matches since 2010, gaining widespread recognition for her work. She also became the first English woman to officiate in a men’s European fixture in 2019.