The year 2022 will be marked in football history by the presence of women in World Cup refereeing for the first time in the tournament that is close to becoming a centenary. Three female referees and three assistants from countries spread across the continents are on the World Cup, one of them being the Brazilian Neuza Inês Back, 38 years old, and who will make her debut in the match between Costa Rica and Germany, on Thursday (1), for the third round of Group E, at 4 pm (Brasília time). She will be assistant number 1, alongside Mexican Karen Diaz Medina. The arbitration will be by the French Stéphaine Frappart.
Born in the municipality of Saudades, in the interior of Santa Catarina, Neuza lived until her youth in the district of Juvencio, which has only about four thousand inhabitants. Since 2018, she has lived in São Paulo, where she shares an apartment with referee Edina Alves Batista.
The main objective of the decision to move to São Paulo was growth and new career opportunities. On the other hand, the choice brought the helper a constant longing for her family, with living at home, in the interior of Santa Catarina, being one of her main resignations in pursuit of her dream.
Interest in arbitration started with brother
Graduated in physical education, Neuza took her first steps in arbitration accompanying her older brother, André Back, who has the same training. The eldest of three brothers was the one who started in refereeing, working in field football, in the interior, and started to have the company of Neuza, who gradually took a liking to the idea.
The beginning was at the Catarina Football Federation (FCF), after graduating from the Gilberto Nahas Catarinense Arbitration School in 2008. She remained on the FCF staff until 2018, when she transferred to the Paulista Football Federation (FPF) and went on to living with her friend Edina Alves – who was the one who had to convince her to leave Santa Catarina for São Paulo.
Edina Alves Batista and Neuza Back (right)
Image: Personal Archive
“I met Neuza in 2008, in a game that I refereed for the women’s team in Santa Catarina and she was my assistant. After that meeting, we started talking via message, about courses, refereeing, really exchanging ideas. Currently, we we share an apartment in São Paulo, ever since our name appeared on the list for the 2018 World Cup. We changed our lives to represent Brazil abroad. Here, I am her family and she is mine because we have no one else in São Paulo. So, when things sometimes aren’t going so well, one always supports the other,” he told UOL Sport.
Distance from family is a big challenge
Living in São Paulo for four years, distance from family members is one of the main difficulties Neuza faces in pursuit of her dream of growing more and more in her profession. in contact with UOL, the assistant’s sister, Tânia Back, said that due to the assistant’s difficult travel routine, they take the initiative to visit her most of the time to minimize the challenging situation.
“It’s really difficult. Because when you leave the city, it’s very difficult to make a new circle of friends. Her work doesn’t allow for a social life, because she’s in a different city every three days, she has her training routine, food. She really misses it a lot. We call whenever we can, but it’s not easy either, because usually she’s on some flight or test. For her to come is very difficult due to logistics, so we try to go more than her come,” he explained.
Neuza Inês Back and her family
Image: Personal archive
Dedication and pursuit of excellence
According to those who work with Neuza, dedication and the constant search for excellence are the main characteristics that surround her. Organized and focused, the assistant always has an extensive list of tasks, which include training, food, and various studies. In addition to Portuguese, she also speaks English, Spanish and German – a great differential among other professionals.
“Neuza is very correct, true and sincere. She doesn’t like lies. If she says she’s going to be in a certain place at a certain time, she will be. She likes people to comply with her exactly as spoken. She’s very dedicated. Now, in the process of the Worlds, she trained twice a day. Neuza makes a list of tasks and does them all. Sometimes I look and think: how did she manage to do all that?”, said Edina.
“I don’t like watching her games”
Assistant Neuza Back and Abel Ferreira in the match between Palmerias X Ituano
Image: VAN CAMPOS/FOTOARENA/STADÃO CONTENT
The common hostility towards football referees is a point that makes sister Tânia avoid watching Neuza games in the stadiums. For some years now, family members have watched the matches on TV, but have avoided attending in person because of the issue.
“I don’t like to watch her game. There’s a lot of swearing. My parents watch everything on TV, but personally it’s delicate. I’ve been to the field and it’s been many years since I went there. One of the last times I went, I lived in Chapecó and she went to work at a Chapecoense game. They were cursing a lot, it was very bad, because she is my sister. When we go, she always asks us not to manifest, just watch the game, but it is difficult”.
