Jawahir Roble (Jawaahir Rooble)

Who is she?

Jawahir Roble, also known as Jawahir Jewels or JJ, is a Somali-born British football referee (Wikipedia, Jawahir Roble). The Daily Telegraph called her "the most remarkable referee in England" (same source). See 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). 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.

Refereeing

In 2013 she won a £300 grant to get Muslim girls playing football, and worked with the Middlesex FA (Wikipedia). 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). 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.