"I Will Live as a Woman from Now On"… Israel's Top Soccer Referee Comes Out

"Successful Life as a Man, Always Lonely"
Israel's First Transgender Soccer Referee

Israeli football referee Safir Berman (26), who revealed that he transitioned to female [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] An Israeli famous soccer referee, who gained popularity by dating a girlfriend with a masculine appearance, has become a hot topic after suddenly announcing gender transition to female.

On the 27th (local time), according to the US ABC broadcast and others, Israeli professional soccer league referee Sapir Berman (26) revealed at a press conference at the Tel Aviv Ramat Gan stadium the day before that she had undergone gender reassignment surgery to become female.

She came out and said she changed her name from Sagi Berman to Sapir Berman.

Berman said, "I lived a life recognized as a man. I was successful in the soccer referees association, school, and dating. To my family, I was a son and a brother, but I was always lonely because I was a woman." She added, "Since I was young, I have regarded myself as a woman" and "I lived envying other women."

She continued, "I thought our society would not accept me, so I endured for 26 years," but "I no longer wanted to show my loved ones the painful side of me, so I finally decided to come out."

Although she received boos from fans, Berman said she did not waver in her decision to come out.

Sapir Berman's past appearance. Photo by Sapir Berman Instagram capture.

Past appearance of Sapir Berman. Photo by Sapir Berman Instagram capture.

The Israel Football Association (IFA) tweeted that day, "Sapir Berman is the first transgender referee," and "We are proud of her." Berman is one of the most famous soccer referees in Israel.

Having undergone hormone therapy for gender transition over the past six months, she was demoted to assistant referee but will step onto the field as the main referee in the playoff match between Hapoel Haifa and Beitar Jerusalem on the 2nd of next month.

Israel is a country inclusive of sexual minorities, where homosexuals and transgender people can serve in the military and run for parliamentary elections. However, Eran Globus of the sexual minority rights group 'Jerusalem Open House' pointed out, "Israel still has a long way to go. No transgender person has yet been elected as a public official."

Israeli football referee Safir Berman (26), who revealed that he has transitioned to female [Image source=Yonhap News]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.