Her hijab in the field is what gets the attention of the spectators, and many including herself wonder:
“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?”
Born in Somalia, Jawahir Roble, known as Jawahir Jewels or JJ to her friends, grew up in London with her parents and eight siblings.
She grew up playing football in their garden, but she was still regarded with scepticism.
“My parents were not so keen on my involvement in football at first because they thought I was embarrassing them. In my culture, you wouldn’t see many girls interested in football,” she said to UK outlet, Standard.
She earned a grant in 2013, which contributed to the launch of the Middlesex FA Women’s League with a new Desi division for girls, by Ciara Allan, the county FA women and girls football development officer. When she was 19, she took her football skills to another level: encouraging other Muslim girls to play the game.
Her first venture as a referee in the field was met with giggles.
She has also been at the receiving end of criticism from religious conservatives, who have accused her of not respecting the religion and the Islamic culture. This does not bother her, especially since she is ‘here to break the stereotypes’.
JJ, now in university studying IT, views refereeing as a way to stretch herself and give her things to do at her leisure time.
“It’s helped loads in my university life. If you’re just chilling the whole time, man that’s boring. It’s good to stretch yourself, to test yourself. Decision-making, being strong: you learn so many values from being a ref. And what I love is, get it right, they trust you,” she says.
Her dedication earned her the 2017 Respect Awards (together with 11 other) and the Match Official prize. She has also received recognition for her volunteering work in Middlesex, including the Football Beyond Borders award.
JJ holds a Level Six refereeing qualification (County Referees, Supply League Assistant Referee) and is hoping to get to the level of refereeing in the Women’s Super League.
Alvin Gauthier, a Grand Prairie USPS postman, recently went above and beyond to brighten a…
Maj. Gen. Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed is the first female commander of the air force and…
Benjamin E. Mays High School brought together its 272 senior class members for a meeting…
Afrika Owes' emotional response to learning that she had passed the bar exam on her…
A 49-year-old New York attorney was on April 26 sentenced to 10 years in federal…
During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Wednesday, pop legend Cher opened up…
Authorities in Florida said an 11-year-old boy was accidentally shot and killed by his 14-year-old…
The famous Taylor Schlitz family is making headlines once more as the youngest of the…
Sony Pictures Entertainment has appointed Tahra Grant as its Chief Communications Officer. She replaces Robert…
Meet Ashley M. Fox, the founder of Empify and the first in her family to…
Tyra Banks, the iconic former host of Dancing With the Stars, has made a delightful…
A Brazilian woman named Érika de Souza, 42, is under investigation for manslaughter after authorities…
Ghana’s Asante king Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has unveiled the long-lost treasure of the kingdom…
Deion Sanders is a retired American professional football and baseball player who currently coaches at…
Tiger Woods is set to receive $100 million from PGA Tour Enterprises for his loyalty,…