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English referee Sian Massey-Ellis to officiate in UWCL final

during the Barclays Premier League match between Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion at Carrow Road on May 12, 2013 in Norwich, England.
Image: Sian Massey-Ellis will officiate in the Women's Champions League final for the first time

English official Sian Massey-Ellis has been appointed as an assistant referee for the Women's Champions League Final.

The 32-year-old will be part of the team officiating the final contested by Lyon and Wolfsburg, which will take place in Kiev on 24 May, two days before the men's final.

Having twice previously been the official reserve for the showpiece event, 2018 proved to be third time lucky for Massey-Ellis.

"I found out on Monday morning when I got a phone call from UEFA, to say I was down for the Champions League final," Massey-Ellis said.

"It's a dream come true really, a great opportunity to work with girls from different countries and I've worked with some of the other girls too.

during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and West Bromwich at St Mary's Stadium on January 11, 2014 in Southampton, England.
Image: Massey-Ellis officiated her first Premier League game in December 2010

"The Champions League final is one of those things that you just think is never really going to happen for you, if that makes sense.

"I did the quarter-final this season, so I really didn't expect to get the final and I was a little bit speechless."

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Having turned professional in 2010, Massey-Ellis was an assistant for her first Premier League game in December that year and has remained at the top of the game ever since.

The Coventry-based official is no stranger to the big occasion, having officiated in the UEFA Euro final in 2013 and in the FIFA U17 and U20 World Cups in recent years.

This year's Champions League final takes place on Saturday, 26 May
Image: This year's Women's Champions League final takes place in Kiev on 24 May

Massey-Ellis is excited by the number of young women taking up refereeing and hopes her latest appointment can only further inspire the next generation.

"It just shows that hard work pays off really," she added.

"I've been refereeing since I was 14 and it shows how much effort you have to put in, but it shows it can be achievable.

"We have so many female refs coming through at the moment and it just shows what you can go on to do really, so if I can act as some form of inspiration for them, then that's great."

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