Katia Itzel García made history as the first woman to officiate a Liga MX match in 20 years, calling the shots as Pachuca and Querétaro went head to head on the weekend.

García held the cards in Saturday’s Clausura clash before travelling back to San Diego to referee the Women’s Gold Cup Final on Sunday. The Mexican referee is only the second woman to officiate in Liga MX, with Virginia Tovar being the first in 2004. 

García has been refereeing at the professional level since 2016, and though she is only 31 she has already officiated both club and international matches, from the Women’s World Cup to Liga MX Femenil. 

Women referees have been making waves across the world in the past few years. Rebecca Welch became the first woman to referee in the Premier League last year, after years of breaking through multiple glass ceilings in English football. In the MLS, Tori Penso became the league’s first full-time woman referee, as well as the first to officiate a match in 20 years back in 2020. 

Though there are more examples of women paving the way in men’s football, the centre circle and sidelines are still overwhelmingly white and male. Consistently appointing these women to officiate matches, rather than a one-off match here and there, is the way forward. 

Women have a place in every facet of football, and García just set another example for future women officials. Here’s to more women commanding the centre circle around the world.

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