Liverpool 2-2 Chelsea (5-4 on penalties): 4 major takeaways | 2019 UEFA Super Cup

#3 Huge strides for the women's game

It was an all-female refereeing affair for the UEFA Super Cup

Earlier in the summer, France hosted the eighth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup, and major props were given for the general coordination and packaging of the tournament.

Women's football has seen an improvement in technique and standards, as well as garnered progressive interest in recent years, leading to widespread criticism over the disparity in pay between female players and their male counterparts.

Gains have been made, with FIFA promising to double the prize money for the next World Cup, while numerous national football federations have made commitments to improving the standards of the women's game in their countries.

In the Super Cup match between Chelsea and Liverpool, major strides were taken towards improving the global appeal of female participation in the sport, as a female referee was appointed to officiate the match.

It was the first time a woman would take charge of a major UEFA competitive match, and Stephanie Frappert was assisted by Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle O'Neil, the same composition which was also the same all women crew that officiated the final of the Women's World Cup between United States and Netherlands.

If there were fears over Frappert's ability to control such a high profile match, those doubts were quickly shelved as the 35-year-old had a firm grip on the match and displayed her authority in the game.

She and her crew of assistant referees got all the major decisions correctly, and with the French League and German Bundesliga having already given opportunities to female referees in the past, UEFA's endorsement is a major stride towards gender equality and equal representation in the beautiful game.