Female referee Emanuela Rusta deletes Instagram after sexist remarks

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Albanian football referee Emanuela Rusta has deleted her Instagram account after facing a barrage of sexist comments about her appearance. Rusta, the first woman to officiate in Albania’s top football division, was recently appointed to oversee the Women's Champions League match between Sporting Lisbon and Real Madrid. However, the attention she received online was focused more on her looks than her achievements.

Rusta, who has been called the "sexy ref" in various media outlets, expressed her frustration at the lack of focus on her professionalism. In an interview with AFP, she emphasized the need for competence in refereeing, not gender, and called for recognition based on performance, not appearance.

Rusta’s actions highlight the ongoing battle against sexism in football, despite recent progress in the women’s game. Leading female referees like Stephanie Frappart and Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb have echoed similar sentiments, advocating for achievements to be the main point of recognition. Nevertheless, women in football, whether referees, players, or coaches, are still often subject to scrutiny based on their looks.

Rusta remains optimistic, stating that she hopes to see more women officiating in men's football at the top level, and expressed her appreciation for the respect she receives on the field. However, her decision to step back from social media illustrates the challenges women continue to face in a male-dominated environment.