Kirsty Dowle

Kirsty Dowle
Dowle in 2021
Born (1991-08-23) 23 August 1991
Domestic
Years League Role
2018– Premier League U-18 Referee[1]
2018– Women's Super League Referee[1]
2022– Premier League 2 Referee[1]
2023– National League Referee[1]
2023– EFL League 2 Referee[1]
International
Years League Role
2020– UEFA Referee[1]
2022– FIFA Referee[1]

Kirsty Dowle (born 23 August 1991)[2] is an English football referee who officiated at the 2022 Women's FA Cup Final,[3][4] and the 2023 FA Women's League Cup Final.[5] She officiates in the Women's Super League,[6] and was added to the 2020 FIFA international list of women referees.[7] In 2023, Dowle started referring National League and EFL League Two men's games.[2]

During Barnet's home EFL League Two defeat by Shrewsbury Town on 6 September 2025, Dowle was verbally abused by Barnet head coach Dean Brennan. He was sent off, charged by the Football Association, and in February 2026 received a nine-game ban, a £2,000 fine and a mandatory education course.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Kirsty Dowle". www.WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b "England - K. Dowle - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
  3. ^ "Dowle to referee Women's FA Cup final". Kent Online. 14 May 2022.
  4. ^ Dowle, Kirsty (18 November 2022). "As a female referee, this World Cup is a positive step – and a deserved one". The Guardian.
  5. ^ "From railway worker to refereeing League Cup final". BBC Sport.
  6. ^ Association, The Football. "Kirsty Dowle gives us an insight into her life as a referee and rise to the FA WSL". www.thefa.com.
  7. ^ "Kirsty's FIFA appointment". Kent Online. 17 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Barnet boss gets nine-game ban for abusing female referee". BBC Sport. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.