Canada
\u200bSoccer Referee Carol Anne Chénard has retired from International duty
\u200bafter a storied career spanning more than fifteen years on both the Canada
\u200bSoccer National List and the FIFA International List of Referees. Chénard was
\u200bjust the fourth Canadian referee to serve 15 or more years on the FIFA List of
\u200bReferees and Assistant Referees.
“Carol Anne Chénard has long been at the pinnacle of international refereeing, breaking barriers over an impressive career that placed her as an inspiration for aspiring referees from coast-to-coast-to-coast,” said Steven Reed, Canada Soccer President. “We are proud of and celebrate Carol Anne’s professional achievements and know that she will continue to be a leader for young referees in Canada and abroad.”
Chénard was
\u200bmost recently appointed to the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™, however,
\u200bshe was forced to withdraw after a breast cancer diagnosis. In light of the
\u200bchallenges facing international football due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the
\u200btiming made sense for this decision.
“It’s
\u200btime,” Chénard said. “While it might not be how I saw my on-field career
\u200bending, now’s the time given the limitations football is facing in light of the
\u200bglobal pandemic.”
Since her
\u200bfirst professional appointment in 2005, Chénard has been among an elite class
\u200bof international referees earning appointments to all major international
\u200bcompetitions in addition to France 2019. Chénard was appointed to the 2008
\u200beditions of the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Football Qualifying Tournament, the
\u200bConcacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship, the Concacaf Women’s Under-17
\u200bChampionship, and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008, where she was
\u200bassigned to the Semi-Final.
From there,
\u200bChénard’s star rose gaining an appointment to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
\u200bGermany 2010, including the Final between Germany and Nigeria. She was
\u200bappointed to the FIFA Women’s World Cup the following year where she was
\u200bappointed to the Semi-Final match. In 2012, she was appointed to both the
\u200bConcacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and the London 2012 Women’s
\u200bOlympic Football Tournament.
An Algarve
\u200bCup Final appointment in 2013, was followed by a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
\u200bCanada 2014 Final appointment on home soil in Montréal and FIFA Women’s World
\u200bCup Canada 2015™ appointment. After being appointed to the Final of the 2016
\u200bWomen’s Olympic Football Tournament, a new challenge was met by Chénard as she
\u200bwas part of a cohort of elite female referees to earn appointment to the FIFA
\u200bU-17 World Cup India 2017.
In 2018,
\u200bChénard was appointed to both the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship and
\u200bthe FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018™, which were her last major
\u200binternational tournament appointments before her appointment to France 2019.
However,
\u200bChénard continued to break barriers anchoring an all-female crew appointed to a
\u200bForge FC v Cavalry FC match during the Canadian Premier League’s inaugural 2019
\u200bseason. “I consider myself a referee, not a female referee,” she said at the
\u200btime.
While she
\u200bplans for the next steps of her career, Chénard knows that the opportunities
\u200bthat face the next generation of Canadian referees are greater than ever.
\u200b“Refereeing is a lot of hard work, a lot of the time is spent out of the spotlight,
\u200bbut the rewards and opportunities are worth it, but you have to stay humble,”
\u200bshe said. “You do the work, surround yourself with the right people and be
\u200bready to seize your opportunity.”