| Birth name | Ghada Mehat |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 1 May 1995 (age 31) |
| Birth place | Sétif, Algeria |
| League 1 | Algerian Women's Championship |
| Role 1 | Referee |
| Years 2 | 2023 |
| League 2 | 2023 CAF Women's Champions League |
| Role 2 | Referee |
| Years 3 | 2024– |
| League 3 | Algerian Cup |
| Role 3 | Referee |
| Internationalyears 1 | 2022– |
| Confederation 1 | FIFA listed |
| Internationalrole 1 | Referee |
| Internationalyears 2 | 2024 |
| Confederation 2 | 2024 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup |
| Internationalrole 2 | Referee |
| Internationalyears 3 | 2025 |
| Confederation 3 | 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations |
| Internationalrole 3 | Referee |
Ghada Mehat (Arabic: غادة محاط; born 1 May 1995) is an Algerian football referee. She has been on the FIFA International Referees List since 2022.
Career
Born in Sétif, Mehat developed a passion for football from an early age, often playing in the streets of her hometown. She spent a brief period as a player with JF Khroub before becoming interested in the role of a referee.[1] In 2015, at the age of 20, she decided to pursue refereeing and enrolled in a two-month training course organized by the Constantine Regional Football League. She was the only female participant to complete the course and was subsequently certified as a referee. Her officiating career began with youth tournaments and gradually advanced to the national level, eventually leading to her recognition as an international referee in 2022.[2] On 22 September 2023, she officiated her first international match in the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification, overseeing the fixture between Ivory Coast and Tanzania.[3]
On 14 April 2024, She became the first woman to referee a men's professional match in the Algerian Cup, officiating a quarter-final match during the 2023–24 Algerian Cup.[4] The match was marked by a heated altercation between then-MC Alger playmaker Youcef Belaïli and Mehat, which drew widespread attention and fueled debate over the presence of female referees in men's football.[5]
In August 2024, Mehat was appointed to officiate in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in the Dominican Republic.[6][7]
Personal life
Mehat holds a Master's degree (Master 2) in Sciences and Techniques of Physical and Sports Activities from Abdelhamid Mehri University in Constantine. In addition, she speaks four languages: Arabic, French, English, and German.[8][3]
References
- ^ "Arbitrage : Ghada Mehat vise le Mondial masculin !" (in French). cresus.dz. 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ "Ghada Mehat, parcours d'une acharnée du football, devenue arbitre internationale" (in French). aps.dz. Algiers: Algeria Press Service. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ "The youngest female referee in Algerian football history… Ghada Mehat, a referee's journey with ambitions of reaching the international stage." (in Arabic). elbilad.net. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ Mehdi.K (13 January 2025). "La résurgence de Ghada Mehat à la suite du scandale Youcef Belaili". lactualgerie.com. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ "Algerian referee Ghada Mehat speaks to Trending about the Youcef Belaïli incident, her career, and her ambitions.". bbc.com. BBC. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ "Arbitrage – Coupe du Monde féminine (U-17) : Ghada Mehat retenue par la FIFA" (in French). faf.dz. Algerian Football Federation. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Merzak Tigrine (4 October 2024). "Mondial U17 de football: L’arbitre algérienne Ghada Mehat retenue" (in French). algeriebrevesnews.dz. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ Adlène Meddi (19 April 2024). "Algérie : une arbitre pour l'Histoire" (in French). lepoint.fr. Le Point. Retrieved 12 June 2025.