Referee Lisa Benn alleges a PGMO coach pushed her, acted with gender bias, and harmed her career after she filed a complaint, tribunal hears,
A senior football official has claimed that a referee coach “forcefully pushed her” and treated her differently because she is a woman. The allegations were presented at an employment tribunal in south London, where Lisa Benn, a 34-year-old Women’s Super League referee, is arguing she was harassed and unfairly removed from the international referees’ list after filing a complaint against a senior coach.
Benn alleges that her career within the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) was negatively affected after she accused Steve Child—a former Premier League assistant referee and current PGMO coach—of physically handling her during a referee training event in 2023.
PGMO has denied wrongdoing, and an internal investigation previously concluded Child’s conduct did not warrant disciplinary action. However, Benn insists she was mistreated and quietly sidelined for speaking out.
The 2023 VAR Training Incident
The incident took place on 29 March 2023 during a PGMO training tournament focused on developing officials’ understanding of VAR protocols, which were not yet active in the women’s game. The schedule had been delayed earlier in the day after a serious player injury, and Benn testified that tensions were running high.
According to Benn, Child assumed a leadership role during the event and seemed overwhelmed by the delays. She described him as “flustered, stressed, and charging around all over the place” as he attempted to get matches restarted.
Benn told the tribunal that Child approached her, grabbed her arm, and “forcefully pushed” her onto the pitch to hurry the match along. She recalled Child saying something similar to “come on, let’s go,” and claimed she raised her hand and responded, “chill,” to slow him down.
PGMO’s representative, Jesse Crozier, challenged her account, suggesting that Child may have placed his arm behind her in a guiding manner rather than pushing her. Benn firmly rejected that interpretation, stating, “That is definitely not what happened.”
Clash Over Coaching Instructions
As the match progressed, Benn said the environment grew more intense. She told the panel that Child instructed the fourth official, Ruby Sykes, to relay a message telling her to “kill the game”—meaning she should calm the match and control tempo.
This intervention angered Benn, who believed Child was undermining her authority on the field. She said she reacted by telling Sykes, through the officials’ communication system, “don’t tell me how to referee,” followed by a forceful “fuck off,” which she intended for Child.
Benn defended her reaction, saying she had never before experienced a coach shouting tactical instructions through the communications system during a match. She emphasized that she regularly officiates at the highest level of the women’s game and felt Child was treating her disrespectfully.
According to Benn, Child’s behavior made her feel inferior and disrespected:
“He made me feel inferior — as a referee and as a human being — and that’s not OK.”
Gender-Based Allegations
A key component of Benn’s claim is the belief that Child acted this way toward her because she is female. When asked whether she had seen him treat others similarly, Benn answered:
“I have to female referees, yes. I haven’t to male referees.”
She insists Child would not have physically pushed or interfered with a male official in the same manner. This forms the backbone of her allegations of sex-based harassment.
During her testimony, Benn became emotional, saying the experience left her feeling belittled and disrespected professionally and personally.
Final Confrontation After On-Field Brawl
The match ended in chaos following a “mass brawl” triggered by one player head-butting another. Benn described the end-of-game tensions as extremely high.
She alleges that after the match, Child grabbed her arm again and angrily told her:
-
“Your card has been marked.”
-
“You’re bloody-minded.”
She claims Child was visibly furious, describing his eyes as “bulging out of his head.”
Benn admitted that she confronted him verbally, shouting “what is your problem?” but said he ignored her and walked away.
Crozier questioned why no witnesses had supported Benn’s claim if such rough handling had occurred in full view of multiple staff members. Benn responded that she believed video footage of the event should exist but that she had never been given access to any recordings.
Impact on Benn’s Career and FIFA List Removal
According to Benn, PGMO leaders—including chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and then–head of women’s refereeing Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb—reassured her she would not face negative consequences for raising concerns about Child.
However, Benn alleges the opposite happened.
She says PGMO stopped recommending her as strongly for high-profile assignments, and this shift played a major role in preventing her from being selected for FIFA’s international referees’ list—a prestigious appointment that can significantly advance a referee’s career.
Benn argues that being denied this recommendation was effectively a punishment, even if not framed as one. She believes the organisation’s internal culture discouraged complaints and that her career prospects suffered as a result of speaking up.
PGMO maintains that it followed proper procedures and that its investigation concluded there was no misconduct by Child at a level requiring disciplinary measures.
Ongoing Tribunal Raises Questions About Treatment of Female Officials
The case highlights wider concerns about the treatment of women within officiating groups and how complaints about male colleagues are handled. Women’s football globally has been expanding rapidly, yet stories of discrimination, harassment, and unequal treatment still surface frequently.
Benn’s testimony raises questions about:
-
Whether female referees receive equal respect
-
Whether senior officials are held accountable
-
Whether complaint procedures are transparent
-
Whether whistleblowers face subtle retaliation
The tribunal’s findings may influence how PGMO and other football organisations approach safeguarding, equality, and internal investigations going forward.
Proceedings Continue
The tribunal is still ongoing, with more evidence expected from both sides. The outcome could have significant implications for Benn’s future career, PGMO’s internal culture, and broader discussions about gender equality within elite football officiating.
As the hearing moves forward, the football community—especially those advocating for better support and protection of women in sport—will continue to watch closely.