Rebecca Welch, the first female referee in Premier League history, met the approval of both managers after she officiated Burnley’s 2-0 win at Fulham.
Vincent Kompany, the Burnley manager, offered full congratulations, as he had in the seconds after full time when he went to speak to the Washington official, drawing a broad smile “I wanted to congratulate her because aside from the performance it’s a big moment,” said Kompany. “And I said when you’re in the game it’s not about the ref, it’s about the players, not about the coach. But after the game it’s fair to say that is a milestone moment and may there be many more.
“The best thing will always be when people are judged on merit but you have to have a first. Well done, I am happy to be a part of this moment.”
Marco Silva, the losing manager, gave only a two‑worded answer when asked to describe Welch’s officiating. “Normal performance,” he said but made no complaints about the refereeing. Instead, he lamented his team’s poor second-half showing.
In a game free from VAR controversy, Welch issued three yellow cards, two to Fulham and one to Burnley in a game that lifted Kompany’s team clear of the bottom three following their third win of the Premier League season. “We have to live for those moments,” said the Belgian. “The key part is players growing. It takes time.”
Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge both scored long‑range strikes as Burnley took full charge at the start of the second half. Kompany said: “Fulham created chances in the first half, but in the key moments we remained calm, especially in the second half, and that helped with the performance. That gave us a chance. We have had a lot of good performances, but it is the results that give you the reward.
“The players managed the game so well, not me. I take the blame when it goes wrong – so I have to give them credit. These players will only get better.”
“We have never really been short of confidence as a team,” said James Trafford, the goalkeeper outstanding in a first half where Burnley were under heavy pressure. “We believe in the whole process. The performances have been there and it was only a matter of time before the results came.”
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Silva said: “We were not close enough at this level, and we were punished. In the first half we were the best team on the pitch. We dominated the game. We should have scored, but then we started the second half in the worst way. We didn’t perform. For their second goal their player ran 30 yards without opposition. We have to react now.”
