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Anoud al-Asmari, first Saudi female international referee, has been appointed by FIFA in a week of football triumphs for the Kingdom.

Anoud was appointed by the international football body on Thursday, less than a year after the debut of Saudi Arabia’s first women’s national team.

“I am happy to be the first Saudi female referee to receive the international badge in the history of Saudi sports,” Anoud, one of eight Saudis on the international panel announced by the world body, told AFP.

The appointment came in the same week at Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Saudi Arabia after his historic signing with the Al Nassr Football Club.