Qin Liang (L)and the other two Chinese referees.
Three Chinese referees showed in the match between France and Colombia at the 2015 Canada Women's World Cup on Saturday with first referee Qin Liang considering it as another showpiece of Chinese women's football under the limelight.
Qin, the first women's referee of Chinese men's domestic league, said she was proud to be the first referee of the World Cup on her maiden appearance at the biggest women's sport event in the world.
"I was very excited when FIFA announced the referees appointment on Thursday, and I was calm too. The first thing I knew I should do is go to the gym," Qin said through telephone on Sunday.
Cui Yongmei and Fang Yan, the two assistant referees from China, did the same things after they arrived at Moncton on Friday.
"Body-building is so important for a football referee that we have to go to the gym everyday since the start of the tournament," Qin said.
Born to a family with love of basketball and Chinese martial arts, Qin said she is one of the few Chinese female footballers who like to stay in the gym, and she thinks that is the reason why there are only four Chinese international female referees registered in FIFA.
"In China, few females like to go the gym or do body-building. So most of the Chinese female referees are retired players. But look at the referees here at the World Cup, they could be any kind of professionals," she added.
Qin began to learn football in her freshman year. She became a national football referee when she graduated in 2001 and received the certification from FIFA in 2010.
"It took almost 10 years for me to become an international referee. I think it's too long," Qin said. "For Chinese girls, football might be the last thing to learn at school. So I think the Chinese Football Association could do more to help them to be professional referees."
Qin said she had pressure at the match between France and Colombia as Colombia produced one of the biggest upsets in the World Cup history by beating France 2-0.
"It's common to make mistakes for football referees, especially at the World Cup level, but you have to listen to yourself," Qin said. "You've got to believe yourself and your team, and be ready to be questioned. Sometimes you might need to listen to the assistant referees. But whenever you make the decision, you cannot take a step back."
Qin said she likes to take charge of some low-level matches in China because "it's easy to find your blind spot in the field," she said.
"World Cup is not easy for any referee. To make a right call, you've got to run more, to get closer to the ball and be more determined," she added.
