Howard Webb
November 2025
Referee Lisa Benn has told an employment tribunal she was grabbed and “manhandled” by PGMOL coach Steve Child during a March 2023 VAR training game, claiming her complaint led to weaker references and ultimately cost her a place on FIFA’s international officials list. Child denies grabbing her, describing only a light guiding arm and rejecting accusations of sexist behaviour, while a PGMOL investigation deemed his conduct below the threshold for discipline; Benn insists female referees were treated differently and that her career progression stalled after speaking up.