The first Black, female, hijab-wearing referee in the United Kingdom is 29-year-old Jawahir Roble. She recently received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her contributions to football, which was a recognition of her remarkable accomplishment.
Growing up in Somalia, Jawahir Roble, also known as “JJ” to her family, played football with neighborhood boys on the streets, where she first discovered her passion. When she was ten years old, her family fled to England and football remained a significant part of her life.
Roble worked to improve football’s accessibility for all players despite not pursuing a career as a professional athlete.
She started officiating in 2012, and in 2017 the Football Association’s Respect Awards recognized her work with Football Beyond Borders, a nonprofit organization that aids underprivileged kids who love football in staying engaged in their studies.
In the 2023 New Year Honours list, she received an MBE in honor of her contributions to football.
