For The First Time In The Belarusian Premier League, A Soccer Match Was Officiated Entirely By A Women's Refereeing Crew

• 22.08.2026, 12:55

A historic event.

Yesterday’s match between “Minsk” and “Vitebsk” in the 19th round of the Premier League made history in Belarusian soccer. For the first time ever, a national championship match between men’s teams was officiated entirely by a women’s refereeing crew, reports onliner.by.

For Blotskaya, this was already her fourth match in the men’s top division—in April, she became the first woman to lead a refereeing crew in Belarus’s elite soccer division. However, in all previous games, her team also included men.

Women’s officiating crews led by Blotskaya have also officiated Belarus Cup matches. In 2025, there were three such matches. However, even then, a man served as the fourth official each time.