The final whistle may have blown on the 2025 Women’s Football League season, but for Saint Lucia’s women in football, the game is far from over. As Canaries lifted the championship trophy after a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Vieux Fort South last Saturday at the Phillip Marcellin Grounds, another story quietly unfolded—one not of goals scored, but of rules enforced, boundaries challenged, and dreams pursued.
At the heart of this story is Alina Francis, a 22-year-old former player turned referee, whose journey from the pitch to the officiating circle is inspiring a new generation of women to see football through a different lens.
A Vision Beyond the Sidelines
The Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA) has long championed the development of women’s football, but its ambitions stretch beyond nurturing players. With support from the Federation Internationale De Football Association (FIFA). the Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), the SLFA is investing in the training and elevation of female referees—ensuring that Saint Lucian women not only play the game but help govern it at the highest levels.
Developmental courses, mentorship programmes, and international exposure have created a pipeline of promising officials. Among them are Niyika MacFarland, Cornelia Edmund, and Shyanne Similie, who recently officiated at the CFU Women’s Under-14 Challenge Series in Trinidad and Tobago. But it was Francis who stepped forward to share her story—a tale of courage, transformation, and fierce ambition.
“I May Be Small, But My Presence Is Not”
Francis’s first regional refereeing assignment was a test of nerves. “I didn’t know what to expect,” she recalls. “But I executed my role well based on what I studied.” That experience, far from intimidating her, ignited a fire.
Last Saturday, she officiated the Women’s League final with poise and authority, ensuring fair play and upholding the laws of the game. Her role, she explains, goes far beyond blowing the whistle.
“Refereeing isn’t just about calling fouls or tracking time,” Francis says. “It’s about keeping the game flowing, communicating clearly, staying fit, and handling intense situations with confidence.”
She speaks with the clarity of someone who has studied the game deeply—not just its rules, but its rhythm, psychology, and spirit. Her presence on the field is commanding, her voice firm, her demeanor serious.
“I may be small in stature,” she says, “but when I step onto the field, my voice and expression speak for themselves.”
Eyes on the FIFA List
Francis is not content with regional assignments. Her goal is clear: to earn a place on the FIFA and CONCACAF referee lists, joining the ranks of elite officials who preside over the world’s biggest matches.
“I see myself going far as a referee,” she says with conviction. “I want to make it on the FIFA list.”
Her ambition is not just personal—it’s emblematic of a broader shift in Saint Lucian football, where women are increasingly seen not just as participants, but as leaders, decision-makers, and role models.
Changing the Game, One Whistle at a Time
The SLFA’s commitment to developing female referees is more than a technical initiative—it’s a cultural statement. It signals that women’s football in Saint Lucia is not a side project, but a central pillar of the nation’s sporting identity.
As Francis continues her ascent, she carries with her the hopes of a community that believes in the transformative power of sport. Her journey reminds us that the beautiful game is not just played with feet—it’s shaped by voices, upheld by rules, and driven by dreams.
And for Saint Lucia, those dreams are only just beginning.