PGMOL can confirm that Bibi Steinhaus-Webb, Select Group Women’s Professional Game Director, will be leaving her position to take up a role at FIFA.
Bibi has been pivotal in transforming the women’s professional officiating pathway in English football, having been at the helm since 2021 when PGMOL assumed responsibility for the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship.
Under her directorship, the Select Group Women’s Professional Game has doubled in size as the women’s game has continued to rocket in prominence and popularity. She has also led the professionalisation of the pathway, as well as creating and offering countless opportunities to officials over the past few years.
Her contributions extend far beyond the match officials themselves, championing the growth of the support staff throughout her tenure and recruiting highly-skilled personnel to an expanded team of coaches, sports science personnel, analysts, psychologists and football insights mentors, who have all played a crucial role in the development of officials within the group.
Whilst Bibi’s departure marks the end of a significant chapter for PGMOL, it also signals the start of an exciting new era with the recent appointment of trailblazing referee Rebecca Welch as the new Select Group Women’s Professional Game Manager.
Welch, who has made history throughout her on-field career, brings a wealth of experience to the role having officiated at the top levels of both domestic and international football.
Joining her will be newly-appointed coach Lou Saunders, a seasoned professional and former top-flight referee in the women’s game.
Together with the already-strong management and support team in place for the group, they are set to continue the upward trajectory of officiating within women’s football in England, building on the progressive foundations set by Bibi.
Everyone at PGMOL and the Women’s Professional Game would like to thank Bibi for her contribution and wish her all the very best at FIFA.
