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Melissa Borjas
Borjas in 2019
Full name Melissa Paola Borjas Pastrana
Born (1986-10-20) 20 October 1986 (age 37)[1]
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Years Role
2013– Referee
International
Years League Role
2013– FIFA listed Referee

Melissa Paola Borjas Pastrana (born 20 October 1986) is a Honduran football referee. She earned a degree in finance at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, and has been a professional referee since 2011.[2] She has been on the FIFA International Referees List since 2013.[3]

Borjas was the first female referee to officiate a match in Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras, the top flight of men's football in the country.[4] She then became the first female official to referee a final match in Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras when she officiated the first leg of the 2019 spring final between local teams Olimpia and Motagua on 26 May 2019.[5][better source needed]

In 2015, she became the first Honduran woman to referee at the FIFA Women's World Cup when she officiated a match between Japan and Ecuador.[citation needed] She was again appointed as a referee for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.[6] After the conclusion of the round of 16, she was selected as one of 11 referees who would officiate during the knockout stages.[7]

On 9 January 2023, FIFA appointed her to the officiating pool for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Referees in Canada 2015™: MELISSA PAOLA BORJAS". FIFA.com. 4 June 2015. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Getty Images". Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  3. ^ FIFA.com. "Referees in Canada 2015™: MELISSA PAOLA BORJAS - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  4. ^ FIFA.com. "Women's Football - News - Refereeing in the genes for Borjas - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Melissa Borjas Photos - Ecuador v Japan: Group C - FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 - Zimbio". Zimbio. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  6. ^ FIFA.com. "FIFA Women's World Cup 2019™ - News - Match officials appointed for FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019™ - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Refereeing - Media briefing" (PDF). FIFA.com. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Match officials appointed for FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™" (Press release). FIFA. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2023.


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