Morocco's Bouchra Karboubi has achieved a significant milestone, being ranked as the fifth best female referee globally by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) in its 2024 Awards. Karboubi was honored with the title of Women's Referee of the Year at the 2024 CAF Awards ceremony, which took place on December 16 in Marrakech. This accolade underscores her remarkable contributions to the world of football officiating. Breaking new ground, Karboubi became the first Arab woman to officiate an African Cup of Nations match as the main referee during the 2023 AFCON in Côte d'Ivoire. Her expertise was also showcased on the international stage at the 2023 Women's World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand. In her home country, Karboubi made history by becoming the first woman to referee a Botola Pro D1 first division football game. Additionally, she was entrusted with officiating the 2019-2020 Throne Cup final, further cementing her status as a trailblazer in Moroccan football. Earlier this year, Karboubi's exceptional skills were recognized with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award, where she was named the «Best Arab Football Referee». Topping the IFFHS ranking for the world's best female referees in 2024 is England's Rebecca Welch, followed by France's Stéphanie Frappart and Sweden's Tess Olofsson.
