# Jawahir Roble (Jawaahir Rooble)

> Jawahir Roble (born 1995): Somali-born British football referee, BBC 100 Women 2019, MBE 2023.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/jawahir-roble/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who is she?

Jawahir Roble, also known as Jawahir Jewels or JJ, is a Somali-born British football referee ([Wikipedia, Jawahir Roble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawahir_Roble)). *The Daily Telegraph* called her "the most remarkable referee in England" (same source). See [sport in Somalia](/en/society/sport-in-somalia/).

## Early life

She was born in Somalia in 1995 and grew up in north-west London with her parents and eight siblings ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawahir_Roble)). She has said, "We always played football in the garden, in the house, outside, everywhere" (same source). She is a Muslim and wears a hijab when refereeing (same source). See [Somalis in London](/en/diaspora/london/).

## Refereeing

In 2013 she won a £300 grant to get Muslim girls playing football, and worked with the Middlesex FA ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawahir_Roble)). In September 2013 the Middlesex FA Women's League opened a new division for girls (same source). In return for refereeing games every week, the Middlesex FA paid for her referee training (same source).

In 2014, aged 19, she wrote: "I have a dream that one day my fellow Muslim sisters will happily play sport" (same source). She has said, "Who would ever think a black, Somali-born immigrant girl with eight siblings could ref a men's game in England with a hijab on?" (same source).

## Honours

In 2017 she won the Match Official prize at the FA's Respect Awards, for her volunteering with the charity Football Beyond Borders and the Middlesex FA ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawahir_Roble)). She was on the BBC's 100 Women list in 2019 (same source). She was appointed MBE in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to football (same source).

## In short

A Somali-born referee in London who works to bring Muslim girls into football, BBC 100 Women in 2019 and MBE in 2023.

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