A powerful story of a female referee's fight for justice has unfolded, leaving many questioning the fairness of the system. Lisa Benn, a Women's Super League referee, has taken her case to an employment tribunal, claiming her career was impacted after a disturbing incident.
Benn alleges that Steve Child, a referee coach and former Premier League official, physically pushed her during a training session in March 2023. This incident, she claims, led to a series of events that ultimately cost her a spot on the prestigious FIFA international referee list.
In a witness statement, Benn described how Child's behavior changed after she made a complaint. She stated that PGMOL, the organization responsible for match officials, no longer recommended her as highly, which affected her international prospects. Benn, 34, believed she had the support of Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer, and his wife Bibi Steinhaus-Webb, who assured her there would be no repercussions for speaking up.
However, PGMOL's investigation found Child's actions did not warrant disciplinary measures. The alleged incident occurred during a VAR training tournament, where Benn claims Child urged her to start a game quickly, grabbed her arm, and forcefully pushed her onto the pitch. The game became intense, and Child instructed another official to tell Benn to 'kill the game.' Benn's response was firm: 'Don't tell me how to referee.'
Benn emphasized her experience and the disrespect she felt: 'I am a trusted referee, officiating at the highest level. This was an under-19s game, and yet he felt superior, manhandling me onto the field. He would never have done that to a male referee.'
PGMOL's representative, Jesse Crozier, suggested Child may have simply 'ushered' Benn onto the pitch, but Benn rejected this interpretation. When asked if she had seen Child act similarly with other referees, Benn replied, 'Yes, with female referees.'
The tribunal heard how Child grabbed Benn's arm after the game, warning, 'Your card has been marked.' Benn described Child's anger, saying, 'His eyes were bulging out of his head.'
Crozier argued that such an incident, if it had occurred in front of many people, would have been witnessed. Benn disagreed.
This case raises important questions about the treatment of female officials and the potential biases within the refereeing community. It's a story that deserves attention and discussion. What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you think Benn's experience is an isolated incident, or does it reflect a wider issue?
