Top Referee Alleges Gender-Based Harassment in Football
A prominent Women's Super League official has testified that a male football coach forcefully pushed her during a match and that gender discrimination influenced his behaviour. Lisa Benn, 34, appeared before a south London employment tribunal on Monday, claiming she experienced harassment and subsequently lost her position as an international referee after raising a formal complaint.
The Incident That Sparked the Complaint
The alleged confrontation occurred during a PGMOL-organised tournament on March 29, 2023, designed to train officials on VAR technology before its implementation in women's football. According to Ms Benn's testimony, the event faced delays due to a serious injury, creating a tense atmosphere.
Ms Benn stated that Steve Child, a PGMOL coach and former Premier League assistant referee, became "flustered, stressed, and charging around all over the place" while assuming a leadership role. The situation escalated when Mr Child allegedly grabbed her arm and forcefully pushed her onto the pitch while saying something to the effect of "come on let's go" to accelerate the game's start.
Although Ms Benn acknowledged telling Mr Child to "chill" while raising her palm, she firmly rejected suggestions from PGMOL's barrister, Jesse Crozier, that the coach had merely "ushered her onto the pitch." She responded: "That is definitely not what happened."
Confrontation and Career Consequences
The tension continued during the match when Mr Child instructed fourth official Ruby Sykes to tell Ms Benn to "kill the game." This prompted an angry response from Ms Benn, who admitted saying "don't tell me how to referee" and "f*** off" through the communications system, though she clarified the remarks were directed at Mr Child rather than Ms Sykes.
Ms Benn became emotional while telling the tribunal: "He made me feel inferior to me, as a referee and as a human being, and that's not OK." She emphasised that Mr Child would never have treated a male referee similarly, stating she had witnessed comparable behaviour toward female referees but never male officials.
The match concluded with a mass brawl triggered by a player headbutting another. Ms Benn testified that Mr Child then grabbed her arm and told her "your card has been marked" and "you're bloody minded," while appearing so angry that "his eyes were bulging out of his head."
Despite a PGMOL investigation concluding that Mr Child's behaviour didn't warrant disciplinary action, Ms Benn claims the organisation's subsequent recommendations for her position diminished significantly. She alleges this directly resulted in her losing a prestigious place on FIFA's international referee list.
Ms Benn acknowledged that video recordings of the event likely exist but confirmed she hasn't viewed any footage. The tribunal continues as both parties present their evidence.
