As the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025 kicks off in two weeks’ time, Kyrgyz Republic’s Veronika Bernatskaia takes centre stage in the latest edition of the Confederation’s It’s My Game campaign as she prepares to officiate as one of six Asian referees appointed to the competition.
Bernatskaia’s encounter with football may have started in the most conventional sense – joining her friends in school for a quick game and rising through the ranks to represent the national team eventually.
Her refereeing path, however, started through a fortuitous accident when, being a stickler for punctuality, she arrived much ahead of time to train and was invited to use her spare time to help officiate in a match.
“I often came early to training, and one time, there was a game with only one referee, and he happened to know that I was a player,” she recalled.
“So he asked me to help, and I agreed. I felt my interest in refereeing increase after the game, and wanted to know more and more about officiating, so I started to learn.”
Despite carving out a historic path for herself over the years, Bernatskaia’s journey in the early years was not without challenges.
“It was not an easy beginning as it was difficult for my family to support me because they didn’t feel it was feminine enough,” she said. “But I fought for my dream and now my brothers, my family – they’re extremely proud of me.”
Since then, there has been no looking back for the 33-year-old, who has blazed a trail as the first woman referee from the Kyrgyz Republic to be appointed for competitions under CAFA, AFC, and FIFA, officiating not only in women’s football but also in premier men’s tournaments.
Now an established official with multiple FIFA age-group competitions on her resume, Bernatskaia is equally committed to mentoring the next generation in her homeland.
“We don’t have many referees in the Kyrgyz Republic, but I try to share my experience to help the younger generation and teach them. I bring them to train with me and share my journey,” said Bernatskaia, before hailing the Confederation’s robust programmes to develop more world-class female referees from across the Continent.
“Now we have many competitions, online and offline seminars, very good fitness instructors, and more opportunities to officiate major competitions.”
Her merit as one of Asia’s most trusted match officials has already taken Bernatskaia to some of the biggest stages in Asian football, including the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™. Among her recent highlights was officiating the Semi-final of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League™ (AWCL), which she described as a dream come true.
“Being part of the very first edition of the AWCL was not just a great responsibility, but a dream, and I am so proud to have been part of this story,” she said.
“My ultimate goal is to reach the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the near future.”
Launched on the AFC Women’s Football Day in 2018, the AFC’s It’s My Game campaign continues to honour inspiring women in football throughout the world’s largest Continent, reaching millions of people via the AFC’s digital channels. To view the latest episode, please click here.
