A Women’s Super League (WSL) referee has told an employment tribunal that she lost her position as an international official after raising a complaint against a coach at the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

Lisa Benn, 34, alleged that Steve Child, a PGMOL coach and former Premier League assistant referee, “forcefully pushed” her during a training tournament. Benn told the London tribunal on Monday that her subsequent complaint led to PGMOL recommending her less highly for FIFA’s international referee list, costing her the chance to officiate at the highest level.

Alleged Incident During VAR Training Tournament

Benn described the incident as occurring in March 2023 during a PGMOL-organised tournament designed to train referees on video assistant referee (VAR) procedures, which are not yet implemented in the women’s game.

The tribunal heard that the tournament schedule had been delayed due to a serious injury. Benn claims that Child, frustrated by the delay, grabbed her arm and pushed her forcefully onto the pitch to get the match started. Later, during a heated under-19 game, Child allegedly instructed the fourth official to “kill the game”, prompting Benn to push back.

“I am a trusted referee, I referee at the highest level—this was an under-19s game,” Benn told the panel.
“He felt superior, he felt like he could come on and tell me how to referee; he manhandled me on to the field of play—he would never have done that to a male referee.”

Disciplinary Investigation and PGMOL Response

Benn said she had previously been assured by Howard Webb, PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer, and his wife Bibi Steinhaus-Webb, then head of women’s referees, that she would not face repercussions for coming forward. Despite this, she alleges her international career stalled after making the complaint.

PGMOL investigated the incident but concluded that Child’s behaviour did not meet the threshold for disciplinary action. A PGMOL representative, Jesse Crozier, suggested that Child might have simply guided her onto the pitch:

“He would have put his arm behind you and ushered you on to the pitch at the same time.”

Benn rejected this explanation, stating she had witnessed similar behaviour toward other female referees but not toward male referees.

Details of the Confrontation

Benn recounted that after the match Child grabbed her arm and angrily said, “your card has been marked”. She described his anger as intense:

“He was so angry his eyes were bulging out of his head.”

The tribunal also explored whether other witnesses could confirm Benn’s version of events. Crozier argued that in a crowded training environment, someone would have seen the alleged pushing, but Benn disagreed.

Next Steps

The employment tribunal continues, as Benn seeks redress and clarity over the alleged gender-based treatment and its impact on her international refereeing career. The case highlights ongoing discussions about equality, professional conduct, and female representation in football officiating.