A female football referee, Lisa Benn, has alleged that a male football referee coach "forcefully pushed" her during a youth-level match in 2023. Benn, 34, claims she experienced harassment and unfairly lost her position as an international referee after filing a complaint about the incident.
Benn, who has officiated in the Women's Super League, testified at a south London employment tribunal on Monday, stating that Steve Child, a Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) coach and former Premier League assistant referee, manhandled her on the pitch. She further alleges that Child told her "your card has been marked".
Following the incident, PGMOL conducted an investigation but concluded that Child's behavior did not warrant disciplinary action. Benn claims that Howard Webb, the organization's chief refereeing officer, and Bibi Steinhaus-Webb, then head of women's referees, assured her she would not be punished for reporting the incident. However, in her witness statement, Benn states that PGMOL did not recommend her as highly after her complaint.
During the tribunal, when asked if she had witnessed Child behaving similarly towards other referees, Benn stated she had seen it happen to female referees, but not male referees.
This incident is not isolated in the world of football. In 2022, a head coach of a Brazilian domestic football team headbutted a female assistant referee after an on-field altercation. The coach, Rafael Soriano, was immediately sent off and later dismissed by the club. The incident occurred during a quarter-final match of the Campeonato Capixava tournament between Nova Venecia and Desportiva. Soriano stormed onto the pitch to confront the referee after a decision, earning a yellow card. He then headbutted the lineswoman, Marcielly Netto, who intervened.
These incidents raise concerns about the treatment of female referees in football and the potential for gender-based discrimination. Benn's case highlights the challenges faced by female officials who come forward with complaints against their male counterparts. The outcome of the employment tribunal could have significant implications for the future of female referees in the sport.
