The Soccer Aid 2026 kicked off at the London Stadium on 31 May 2026.
Celebs like Damson Idris, Tom Hiddleston, and legendary players such as Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart, with Harry Redknapp being the manager, fans could not wait to experience the historic tradition that has been going on for a long 20 years.
Yet, the referee for the occasion became target of vile comments online, but Twitter rained hellfire on them.
Despite it being a charity game, some fans were not happy with the some of the decisions taken by referee Cheryl Foster at the Soccer Aid 2026. Twitter trolls even went as far as fatshaming her in now-deleted tweets.
Has this referee won a competition to be there? #SoccerAid
— Jack Rowlands (@jackrowlands123) May 31, 2026
Due to such reaction, fans were quick to defend foster on the internet and shut the trolls out.
Former Wales International, officiated in the Welsh Premier League, WSL, an FA Cup Final, Champions League Final and a World Cup and European Championship.
— I think human rights are good, actually (@DaleyBlindFC) May 31, 2026
I think she's more than qualified for a charity football game with Jack Whitehall, Frankie Dettori and Olly Murs playing. https://t.co/vJzkgeOJcz
But is Cheryl Foster really as qualified as people are making her seem? Yes.
Cheryl Foster was appointed as the referee of the Soccer Aid of the 2026 match. Foster had began her refereeing stint after an equally successful football career during which he had won 3 league titles with Liverpool and 63 Wales Cap.
Due to her skills, she had quickly established herself as an official deemed with talent and was added to FIFA’s list of international referees in 2015 and promoted to UEFA’s elite list in a short span of five years.
Her career highlights include taking charge of matches at the finals of the Women’s Euros 2022 and the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Foster made a record by becoming Wales’ first World Cup referee in a staggering time period of 45 years when she took charge of Brazil’s 4-0 win against Panama in in Adelaide in 2023.
Domestically, Foster has made a new record by becoming first woman referee in JD Cymru Premier in 2018.
Despite such accolades, Foster holds and is more than capable of a referee yet it’s sad to see how people choose to water her skills down based on her physical appearance.
It’s happy to see football is still an accepting place for people from all around the world and do not face judgement due to their background, race or gender.
Whoever judges so, is quick to receive backlash and be shut down on the internet.
