The Return of the Naked Ref

Remember Ana Paula de Oliveira? Course you do. She was the hot Brazilian assistant ref who did the naked arty pictures for Playboy last year. Big news in the blogosphere, and it made her the kind of celebrity Andy Warhol would have been proud of, but it wasn’t so good for her flag-waving career.

This past weekend Ana Paula de Oliveira was back in action, running the line during São José’s 1-1 draw Taquaritinga in the second division of the Brazilian state championship. Apparently this is the first game she’s officiated since July 9th 2007 and she’s pretty pleased to be back. “I’m very happy. Very, very happy,” she said. “You have no idea. It felt like I was working in a final match.”

So welcome back Ana. But here’s hoping she (and I can’t believe I’m typing this) keeps her clothes on in future and concentrates on refereeing. Being a female referee is still difficult work in any country, especially with guys like Mike Newell around. And I don’t think Ana Paula de Oliveira posing naked in Brazilian Playboy makes things any easier.

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Category: World Football