Tess Olofsson on the historic debut in the Allsvenskan

Soccer referee Tess Olofsson has many big matches on her merit list. In the last round of the Allsvenskan, she made history when she refereed the match between IFK Norrköping and Sirius. Olofsson is the first woman to referee the men’s national league.
– It was very special, she says in Efter fem.

Since Tess Olofsson became a Fifa referee in 2015, she has broken historical ground – several times over. Last year, she resigned from her job as a police officer to focus fully on the judicial profession.

– I hope and wish that more people could get the chance because I have really developed a lot after I got the opportunities to be able to train more, analyze my matches and prepare myself, says Tess Olofsson in Efter fem.

Two years ago, Olofsson became the first woman to referee a match in the super league and since then there have been several matches in Sweden’s second highest league.

In the last round of the Allsvenskan, when the central teams IFK Norrköping and Sirius were pitted against each other, she struck again. Then she became historic again when she was the first woman to ever kick off a match in the men’s Swedish national league.

– It was very special, really fun. A warm feeling inside and a pride to reach the highest level on the men’s side. The dream right now is to get more matches in the Allsvenskan, says Tess Olofsson.

“Lots of shit and profanity”

However, the road to the absolute top in football Sweden has not been smooth sailing. In After five, she talks about the tough adversities that female judges face and the abuses that judges in general have to endure.

– After my first match, I felt that it was very tough and boring. Because why should you continue when you hear so much crap and sex words. But after that, I can’t remember wanting to quit. But on the other hand, there have been tough matches where you got a lot of shit, she says.

Only seven percent of Sweden’s football referees are women. But that doesn’t stop Tess Olofsson from aiming high – and the goal is clear.

– It doesn’t matter which match it is. Just getting to do it, to step out and referee an international match on the men’s side.