Assistant referee Sian Massey‑Ellis has announced her retirement from officiating to take up a senior manager position with the Football Association, focusing on supporting and developing female officials. The announcement follows a career that saw her officiate in more than 150 Premier League matches.

Massey‑Ellis rose to the Premier League as an assistant in 2010, becoming only the second woman to achieve that feat. She made history as the first Englishwoman to referee a men’s European fixture and the first woman to officiate in a men’s FA Cup final, and she appeared in five Women’s FA Cup finals.

In stepping away from the touchline, Massey‑Ellis emphasized she is not leaving football behind. She hopes her journey has helped change perceptions, opened doors, and inspired young people to feel they belong in the game, calling that one of her greatest achievements.