Raised in Kiryat Bialik, she grew up immersed in the sport, playing in the Hapoel Haifa youth system.

But as a young player, she quickly realised that her dream of becoming a professional footballer was unlikely to happen.

After six months of sitting at home, unable to shake the desire to be involved in the game, she made a pivotal decision to become a referee.

What makes Sapir’s story more remarkable is that she was born Sagi and raised as a boy in northern Israel.

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