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Ivana Vlaić

Ivana Vlaić

Football referee

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  • Ivana Vlaić

»I'm the first female FIFA referee from Bosnia and Herzegovina, a distinction that represented a turning point in my career the reason behind frequent travel and intensive training.«

Football is my great love and obsession, and I demonstrated an interest in this sport at a very early age. Being a football referee is an honour and a calling for me.

Becoming a female FIFA referee (the first from Bosnia and Herzegovina) represented the beginning of an intensive period of travel and training for me. Being an international referee brings with it great responsibility that requires one to maintain an excellent level of physical fitness. The job is interesting and since, for me, every match is the "match of my life" I'm constantly giving it my all.

»I have not had any negative encounters with the fans, but whistling from the bleachers is quite normal as there are people whose reason for coming to matches is to shout from the bleachers.«

At the start of my career, I was stiff and much more serious whereas now, with many years of work and experience behind me, I am more relaxed. I have not had any negative encounters with the fans, but whistling from the bleachers is quite normal as there are people whose reason for coming to matches is to shout from the bleachers. Despite having refereed many matches, I get the "good" butterflies in my stomach every time because this is my dream job. My male colleagues have accepted me, and the fact that I am a woman on the football pitch does not make any difference or prevent me from enjoying myself and advancing my career.

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