03/08/2025
Recruiting and promoting female referees in the Netherlands.
The Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) took significant strides in attracting and promoting female referees across all levels of the game last season – and show no signs of letting up.
From an inspiring documentary series to campaign videos, the KNVB are building long-term pathways for female referees through a number of initiatives.
One such initiative was a four-part documentary series which was shown on the KNVB YouTube channel and ESPN. Entitled Achter het Fluitsignaal – Behind the Whistle – it put two women in the spotlight.
Manon Plandsoen, a 25-year-old who referees in the Dutch Women’s Eredivisie and the top two tiers of the men’s West II district, was among those to feature.
"I have a smile on my face 90% of the time when I’m refereeing," she says. "I don't do it intentionally. Apparently, I enjoy officiating so much that it happens by itself."
Plandsoen has been refereeing for 10 years and sees it as an integral part of her life.
"You can continue to develop yourself as a referee. It helped shape the person I am today."
The campaign also spotlighted Wendy Gijsbers, who reluctantly took part in a refereeing course at age 15 but ultimately earned her FIFA badge in 2024 and can now officiate international matches. Another story featured five footballing friends who all signed up together for the same course to become club referees.
Behind the Whistle was also linked to the Dutch Week of the Referee. Among the various initiatives encouraging people to consider entering the world of the match official, referees at all levels had the slogan Word Scheidsrechter – Become A Referee – displayed prominently on the back of their shirts.
Looking ahead, the KNVB is launching a new campaign video aimed specifically at girls and women for the 2025/2026 season.
It will feature four female referees: two in amateur football, one in futsal and one who is active at a professional and international level.
"We notice that girls and women have to overcome specific obstacles before getting involved in refereeing," says the KNVB’s amateur football refereeing marketer Meryem Incedag. "For example, that they will be the only female on a course, or that they don’t know enough about refereeing before starting."
To help address this, a digital environment has been created where aspiring female referees can get to know each other while brushing up on their knowledge.
What should give them further encouragement is that two Dutch women – Franca Overtoom and Shona Shukrula – were involved in the officiating teams at UEFA Women's EURO 2025 in Switzerland.
All in all, the KNVB is building long-term pathways for women in officiating, while raising the profile of female referees at all levels of the sport.
Follow the path of Manon Plandsoen and smile on the pitch like her, be a referee!
