Anoud Al-Asmari has become the first Saudi female to receive the international referee badge from the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA). The list published by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) names 8 referees verified by FIFA, including Al-Asmari, who is the only female on the list. The Federation also listed the names of FIFA-approved assistant referees, VAR referees and futsal referees. Al-Asmari began her sports career as a referee in 2018 by managing a series of matches in the Saudi Women’s League, and according to FIFA, she was chosen to be the first Saudi female to hold the badge of international referee on the list of Saudi international referees for 2023.