Miss Midi-Pyrénées 2016 and referee, Montpellier Virginie Guillin lives her passion for football to the fullest

Virginie Guillin est arbitre assistante VG – VG

Portrait of Virginie Guillin, trained journalist, community manager, occasional model and recent football referee.

Virginie Guillin's career path is atypical, and that's the least we can say: trained in journalism, elected Miss Midi-Pyrénées 2016, the Montpellier woman has a position as community manager in a company, a role as a football referee on weekends and modeling missions. “I’have little time to rest,” she laughs. I am a dynamic, hardworking and curious person, I love learning. And I get bored quickly except when I reach the high level. I have a leader and winning mentality. Every time I fail, it makes me even stronger. And you should know that I never succeed at anything the first time (laughs)."

A future at the highest level ? 

Since 2022, Virginie Guillin has been officiating on the football pitches as an assistant referee. "A friend who was a football referee told me about refereeing and I signed up for an internship, she explains. I got into the game, I wanted to progress quickly. At the beginning, it was complicated at the lowest level of amateur football. Even more so when you are a woman, I have received sexist remarks. I stuck with it and quickly moved up to the regional level. I officiate as a League referee in Occitanie. Last June, I completed a federal observation internship in Clairefontaine. I was not selected because I only had one year of arbitration behind me."

"You have to be a real athlete"

But Virginie Guillin (30 years old) does not intend to give up. Next June, the referee licensed at MHSC will take the federal tests again. Especially since she had the opportunity to taste the high level by participating in two matches in the women's second division. "A sports coach helps me achieve my goals, I do crossfit and athletics in addition to my professional activities and my personal life. To referee, you have to be a real athlete. I train three times a week, which allows me to be match ready."

While she raises her flag to signal offside positions, Virginie Guillin already sees further and dreams of becoming a football columnist or commentator.