Fans hail Rebecca Welch as EPL’s 1st female referee gets off to bright start

FANS have hailed Rebecca Welch as she becomes the Premier League's first-ever referee.

Welch, 40, took charge of the match that saw Fulham host Burnley at Craven Cottage.

The fixture means a lot to the two involved clubs as the Clarets are battling against relegation while the Cottagers are trying to cement themselves in the top half.

As she came out to warm up before the match and do their pre-match checks.

It was clear that fans were warming to the referee as they applauded her from the stands.

The official has had an untraditional rise to the Premier League.

She worked as an administrator for the NHS before taking charge of her first-ever League Two fixture between Harrogate Town and Port Vale in 2019.

Fans were quick to praise Welch for not dominating the match too much as she let the clash flow as they flocked to social media.

One posted: "Rebecca Welch letting a lot go in the early stages, which suits me just fine."

A second commented: "What a brilliant moment of history."

A third wrote: "Woman power."

A fourth said: "Smattering of applause with whistles of support as Rebecca Welch comes out to warm up with her assistants."

She laid down the marker for the players as she showed Calvin Bassey the yellow card for catching Josh Brownhill with a stray arm.

Burnley won the game 2-0 and only two more cards were handed out by Welch.

At full-time winning manager Vincent Kompany went up to Welch to have a happy word as he was seen smiling.

Piers Morgan congratulated the referee on social media after the game for a "very solid game".

He posted: "Congrats to Rebecca Welch on becoming the first woman referee in the Premier League.

"By all accounts she had a very solid game, and was clearly there on merit, though every Fulham fan is now blaming