NORTH EAST referee Rebecca Welch has been named as one of the 21 officials who will take charge of the football tournaments at this year’s Olympic Games.

Welch became the first woman to referee a Premier League fixture when she took charge of Burnley’s 2-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage in December.

The 40-year-old from Washington, Tyne and Wear, was also the first woman to be appointed to referee a match in the Football League for the Sky Bet League Two fixture between Harrogate and Port Vale in 2021.

READ MORE: Who is Rebecca Welch, Premier League's first woman referee

She will be joined in Paris by assistant referee Emily Carney, while David Coote has been appointed one of the Video Assistant Referees.

The men’s tournament will get under way on July 24 and finish on August 9 at the Parc des Princes, while the women’s tournament starts on July 25 and concludes on August 10 at the same venue.

Welch played football herself from a young age before studying to be a referee with Durham County FA.

It was only 14 years ago in 2010 that she became a referee and for nine years she juggled her officiating with her work as an administrator for the NHS.

Welch will take charge of Middlesbrough's game against Swansea City at the Riverside Stadium this weekend.