From Pioneers to Champions: Swiss Women's Football Celebrates Its Transformative Journey
Source: news.source.channelnewsasia
Swiss women football pioneers, including 72-year-old Madeleine Boll, gathered in Sion to celebrate the transformation of women's football in Switzerland. The city hosts three games of the Women's European Championship, marking a significant milestone since Boll became the first woman to obtain a football licence in Switzerland in 1965. The tournament mascot, named Maddli after Boll, symbolizes the progress from humble beginnings to a thriving sport with 40,000 registered female players and 134 female referees.
Key Points
Madeleine Boll was the first woman to obtain a football licence in Switzerland at age 12 in 1965, but it was revoked shortly after.
The first Swiss Women's Football League was established in 1970, with Boll's father, Jean Boll, as its president.
Sion, Switzerland, is hosting three games of the Women's European Championship, a testament to the growth of women's football.
The tournament mascot, a Saint Bernard puppy named Maddli, honors Madeleine Boll's contributions to women's football.
Today, there are 40,000 registered women players and 134 female referees in Switzerland, reflecting significant progress in the sport.
