Ferrieri Caputi to Become 1st Female Referee in Serie A

Referee Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi reacts during the Italian Serie B match Modena FC vs Frosinone Calcio at Alberto Braglia stadium in Modena, Italy, 14 August 2022. (EPA)
Referee Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi reacts during the Italian Serie B match Modena FC vs Frosinone Calcio at Alberto Braglia stadium in Modena, Italy, 14 August 2022. (EPA)
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Ferrieri Caputi to Become 1st Female Referee in Serie A

Referee Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi reacts during the Italian Serie B match Modena FC vs Frosinone Calcio at Alberto Braglia stadium in Modena, Italy, 14 August 2022. (EPA)
Referee Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi reacts during the Italian Serie B match Modena FC vs Frosinone Calcio at Alberto Braglia stadium in Modena, Italy, 14 August 2022. (EPA)

Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi will become the first woman to referee a Serie A match when she takes charge of Sassuolo’s match against Salernitana on Sunday.

The 31-year-old Ferrieri Caputi was promoted to the Italian league's refereeing pool for this season. She became the first female to referee a match involving a Serie A team last year, in Cagliari’s Italian Cup match against Cittadella. She disallowed three goals during that game.

“It’s not an ordinary day and I’m also moved by it,” said Alfredo Trentalange, president of the referees’ governing body in Italy. “Maria Sole will debut in Serie A on merit, without any shortcuts, for her ability and skills.

“We’re about to experience a historic moment after more than 110 years. We thank those who believed in her. … We’re not granting any privileges, Maria Sole earned this step.”

Ferrieri Caputi started refereeing seven years ago and was promoted to the third-tier Serie C five years later.

She also refereed a Serie B match last year, a few months after Maria Marotta became the first female to officiate a second-division match in Italy.



F1 Seeks to Spice up Monaco GP with More Mandatory Pitstops

Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc drives during the third practice session of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix on May 25, 2024. (AFP)
Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc drives during the third practice session of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix on May 25, 2024. (AFP)
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F1 Seeks to Spice up Monaco GP with More Mandatory Pitstops

Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc drives during the third practice session of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix on May 25, 2024. (AFP)
Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc drives during the third practice session of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix on May 25, 2024. (AFP)

Formula One's governing body is planning to spice up the showcase Monaco Grand Prix by forcing teams to carry out more pitstops.

The FIA said in a statement that an F1 commission meeting in London on Tuesday had discussed "proposals for Monaco-specific regulations" to promote less processional racing at the tight and twisty circuit.

"The commission agreed to increase the numbers of mandatory pitstops in the race," it added, without providing further details.

"These proposals will be further discussed by the sporting advisory committee in the coming weeks."

The current mandatory minimum is one pitstop per race.

Overtaking is extremely difficult around Monaco, with qualifying and pole position a much more crucial element than at other races.

The FIA said there would also no longer be any restriction on the number of gearboxes teams could use during a season as the reliability of current designs had rendered the regulation obsolete.