Howard Webb, referees’ chief and head of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), has denied claims that former Women’s Super League (WSL) referee Lisa Benn lost her international role because she lodged a complaint alleging harassment by a coach.

Benn, 34, claimed she was grabbed and intimidated by an assistant referee coach, and that her complaint led to her being ranked sixth on the FIFA international referees list, rather than fifth, effectively missing out on selection. Webb, however, told an employment tribunal that her lower ranking was based on performance factors and competitiveness, not retaliation.

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Benn’s Allegations

Lisa Benn alleged that during a VAR training tournament in March 2023, Steve Child, a former Premier League assistant referee and then coach, grabbed her arm and “forcefully pushed” her onto the pitch. She also claimed he said:

“Your card has been marked.”

Child has denied making the remark, and a PGMOL investigation reportedly found insufficient evidence for disciplinary action.

Later, in August 2023, Benn attended a PGMOL training camp, where she alleged further intimidation by Child in the hotel reception. She raised these concerns with Bibi Steinhaus-Webb, then PGMOL’s head of women’s referees and Howard Webb’s wife.

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The Fifa Referee Ranking Dispute

Following the incidents, Benn found herself ranked sixth in the PGMOL nominations for the FIFA international women’s referees list, missing out on one of the five standard positions. PGMOL had, however, requested FIFA to accept a sixth referee for that season due to the growth of the women’s game.

At the tribunal, Webb explained:

“We produced a holistic ranking based on performance factors. Unfortunately, compared to the other officials, she was correctly placed sixth. This is a competitive world, and we must rank officials against each other.”

He emphasized that the decision was performance-based and unrelated to Benn’s complaints.

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Tribunal Proceedings

Benn’s legal team questioned Webb, suggesting that her ranking was influenced by her complaints about Child. Webb denied this, stating:

“No, that is not correct.”

Webb acknowledged Benn had raised concerns about fear among officials in reporting grievances, but stressed that PGMOL wanted referees to speak openly and confidently without fear of reprisal.

He also highlighted the prestige of being on the FIFA referees list:

“They treasure this badge, they really, really do. We had a view that a sixth position was very likely. The growth of the women’s game is incredible, and we aim to serve that demand.”

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Context and Next Steps

Lisa Benn had previously officiated at the 2022 Women’s European Championship and is an experienced WSL official. The tribunal continues as it examines the claims surrounding workplace conduct, grievance procedures, and referee rankings within PGMOL.

This case has drawn significant attention, highlighting the pressures faced by female referees and the governance of referee development at both domestic and international levels.