History-making female referee rushed off pitch by POLICE in shocking scenes at end of cup final

HIGHLY respected referee Stephanie Frappart was escorted off the pitch by police during the Greek cup final yesterday.

The French official was chosen to take charge of the cup final clash between Panathinaikos and Aris.

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Referee Stephanie Frappart had to be rushed off the pitch in the Greek Cup final[/caption]

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Fellow officials had to hold back Aris players and staff after they had lost 1-0 to Panathinaikos[/caption]

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Police came on to the playing surface to protect Frappart and her officiating team[/caption]

Frappart, who usually officiates in her home country of France, was reportedly chosen for the high stakes cup final to avoid any concerns over violence or bias with a local Greek referee.

But even in spite of her disassociation with Greek football, she was close to being in serious danger as she was rushed off the pitch following angry reactions from players and staff.

Frappart issued 12 bookings during the feisty affair with three players given their marching orders.

And things took a turn for the worse when Panathinaikos scored a 97th minute winner to seal cup glory after Aris had seen two of their players sent off in the second half.

The late goal, coupled with the punishments that Frappart had dished out, led to emotions boiling over and players and staff from the Aris dugout confronting the referee.

Images show Frappart surrounded by players and coaching staff while police form a barrier to help her safely leave the pitch as a result of the shocking confrontation.

Unbelievably Aris club president Theodoros Karypidis was also seen on the pitch confronting the official.

The cup final was already being played behind closed doors as a result of concerns over fan trouble.

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Frappart made history by becoming the first female to ever referee the Greek cup final, and it’s not the first time she’s etched her name into the record books either.

She became the first woman to referee a major men’s European match and a French Ligue 1 match in 2019.

Before then becoming the first female referee of a Champions League match in 2020.

Frappart continued to be a trailblazer for female officials when during the 2022 Qatar World Cup she became the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match in an all-female refereeing team.

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Frappart made history as a referee during the 2022 World Cup[/caption]

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She is a regular in the Champions League too[/caption]