Ekaterina "Katja" Koroleva (Russian: Екатерина «Катя» Королева; born March 20, 1987) is an international soccer referee for the Professional Referee Organization (PRO), which she joined in 2013.[2][3][4] Born in the Soviet Union, she represents the United States.
 Katja Koroleva refereeing a USWNT match in 2021 | |||
| Full name | Ekaterina Koroleva | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
March 20, 1987 Novosibirsk, Soviet Union[1] | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2013– | NWSL | Referee | |
| 2015– | United Soccer League | Referee | |
| 2017– | MLS | Video Assistant Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2014– | FIFA listed | Referee | |
She is also a mid-level practitioner at Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington, Washington, United States.[5] In April 2020, CONCACAF recognized Koroleva for her service as a frontline healthcare worker during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7]
Officiating
editYouth career
editKoroleva began officiating at the age of 15 in order to help pay for youth soccer fees in the Midwest Regional League.[8]
Domestic leagues
editKoroleva officiates matches in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United Soccer League as a referee, and in Major League Soccer as a video assistant referee. Koroleva was the center referee for the NWSL Championship in 2015 and 2023.[9][10]
International tournaments
editIn August 2016, Koroleva was appointed to be a referee at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Jordan.[11] She was appointed in August 2018 to referee at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay.[12]
Koroleva was appointed to be an official at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.[13][14] She also participated in the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup as a video assistant referee.[15]
On January 9, 2023, FIFA appointed her to the officiating pool for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. She was one of two center referees selected from the United States to participate in the tournament.[16] She officiated the quarterfinals match between England and Colombia.[17][18]
Relatives
editKoroleva was born in the Soviet Union, and her family migrated to Denmark, then to Iowa.[7] Koroleva was raised by her single mother,[8] Irina Koroleva, a geneticist and molecular biologist who migrated to the United States after being offered a research job at a university.[19] Irina Koroleva also took up officiating soccer matches in the early 2000s.[15]
References
edit- ^ "Way to go, Katja! | Arkansas State Soccer". www.arkansassoccer.org. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
- ^ "Estados Unidos - K. Koroleva - Perfil con noticias, estadísticas de carrera e historia - Women Soccerway". es.women.soccerway.com. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- ^ "Ekaterina (Katja) Koroleva – Professional Referee Organization". Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- ^ "PRO's Katja Koroleva on life as a professional referee: "We make hundreds of decisions"". Major League Soccer. March 14, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Baxter, Kevin (June 3, 2019). "Kathryn Nesbitt's ambition and talent have forged her path to Women's World Cup". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ Armstrong, Megan (May 12, 2020). "Women's Soccer Ref Katja Koroleva Working as Physician Assistant amid COVID-19". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Baxter, Kevin (May 11, 2020). "Soccer referee helps make the right calls against the coronavirus". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Woitalla, Mike (August 1, 2023). "Ref Watch: Teenage job quests led Tori Penso and Katja Koroleva to World Cup". SoccerAmerica. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ "Katja Koroleva looks ahead to international honors after domestic success – Professional Referee Organization". Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- ^ "2023 NWSL Championship crew confirmed". Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ FIFA.com. "FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2016 - News - Referees and assistant referees appointed for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- ^ FIFA.com. "FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2018 - News - Referees and assistant referees appointed for Uruguay 2018". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- ^ FIFA.com. "FIFA Frauen-WM 2019™ - Nachrichten - Aufgebot der Spieloffiziellen für die FIFA Frauen-WM 2019™". www.fifa.com (in German). Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- ^ FIFA.com
- ^ a b Kuttler, Hillel (August 5, 2021). "PA Soccer Referee Finds Work-Life Balance". American Academy of Physician Associates. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Baxter, Kevin (July 17, 2023). "U.S. refs are poised to make history during the Women's World Cup". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Allen, William (August 12, 2023). "Who is Ekaterina Koroleva, the referee for England vs Colombia at the 2023 Women's World Cup?". Diario AS. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ Murray, Noah (August 11, 2023). "Woman in the middle". The Athletic. The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ "American competes to officiate next Womens World Cup". SoccerToday. February 18, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
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