Manuela Nicolosi, a female referee from Italy who once officiated Chelsea versus Liverpool, has been told to tone down her attention-grabbing looks
12:57, 22 Oct 2025
Manuela Nicolosi
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Manuela Nicolosi has opened up on her looks(Image: manuelanicolosi_arbitra/Instagram)
A stunning referee who once officiated Chelsea versus Liverpool has been told to tone down her attention-grabbing looks.
Manuela Nicolosi, 45, has officiated more than 200 professional matches across men's and women's football during her career - including as an assistant for the 2019 Super Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool.
However, she has now been told that her looks are "attracting too much attention". Speaking to Italian outlet Quotidiano Sportivo, she was asked if her looks have ever proved a barrier.
"No, on the contrary. All my superiors told me: you have to be less visible, you attract too much attention.
"One year I wasn't promoted from Serie C to Serie B because I was too 'visible'. I was on the verge of giving up. Technical errors or failed athletic tests are one thing.
Manuela Nicolosi
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Manuela Nicolosi is an Italian referee(Image: manuelanicolosi_arbitra/Instagram)
"But having them stop me by telling me 'you're flashy' is a big deal. I left Italy at 20 because I realised they didn't want female referees.
"They let you reach a certain level, the regional one, and then they put a spoke in your wheels in every way."
Manuela's career in Italy has got off to a shaky start - and she had to be escorted out of one match in the Eccellenza (Italy's fifth division).
"I barricaded myself in the locker room," she said. "The coaches and managers of a team were shouting at me 'we'll kill you, get out'.
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(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Manuela Nicolosi
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Manuela Nicolosi was an assistant at the 2019 Super Cup final(Image: manuelanicolosi_arbitra/Instagram)
"I called the police who escorted me out. I remember it as if it were yesterday."
Manuela admitted verbal abuse is a problem all referee's face - but added when asked if she's ever been harrased: "Yes, but I'd rather not talk about it.
"I never gave in, which is why it took me so long to make a career. It happened (players making advances), but I never gave in. I'm not the type who dreamed of getting engaged to a footballer.
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"On the pitch, whether I was facing [Kylian] Mbappe or [Mohamed] Salah, it was the same for me."
Manuela can now be seen on screens during the King's Cup - founded by Gerard Pique - where she is a referee.