Robert Bailey, Freelance Reporter

Riley during the half-time break of a Wray and Nephew NPL match at Edward Seaga Stadium this season. - Contributed by Joyce Fletcher

Paulette Riley, Jamaica's top female assistant referee, could create history by becoming the country's first female to officiate in a football World Cup Final.

Riley, a FIFA assistant referee, has been selected among a list of referees from which the final selection will be made for this year's women's World Cup Final in China, that will kick off on September 10 and end on the 30th.

In preparation for this year's tournament, Riley, is among 45 assistant referees and 30 referees who will be attending the third FIFA workshop in Las Palmas, Spain.

She is slated to leave the island next Tuesday and is scheduled to return on the 20th.

"This workshop will be attended by persons with experience because everybody going to this workshop have been to a World Cup ... so they (FIFA) chose the best to be there to take part in this," Riley explained.

"This means a lot for my career because it makes me want to strive more ... for the best at all times."

A dedicated and hard-working professional Riley, who was appointed a FIFA assistant referee in 2002, says officiating at the senior World Cup Finals is her dream.

"I have wanted to go to the senior women's World Cup for a long time."

Riley officiated at last year's Under-20 women's World Cup in Russia, where she stood in the final when South Korea beat China 2-0.

She has also officiated at the 2004 FIFA Under-19 World Cup Finals in Thailand.