Howard Webb, PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer, has rejected claims that a former staff member lost her place on FIFA’s international referees list as retaliation for raising a grievance. The dispute is being heard at an employment tribunal.
Lisa Benn, 34, says she was grabbed and threatened by an assistant referee coach and that, after she complained, her nomination to FIFA fell from fifth to sixth in Professional Game Match Officials Limited’s rankings. PGMOL submits referees to FIFA, which that season accepted five referees on its women’s list; PGMOL had hoped to secure a sixth spot but was unsuccessful.
Benn alleges the incident occurred on 29 March 2023 at a VAR training tournament, when Steve Child, then a PGMOL assistant referee coach for the women’s game, grabbed her arm and pushed her onto the pitch. She also says a brawl at the game was followed by a remark from Child that “your card has been marked.” Child denies that comment and describes any contact as a guiding arm.
PGMOL investigated in 2023 and reported it found insufficient evidence to substantiate Benn’s claims, concluding Child’s conduct did not meet the threshold for disciplinary action. Benn says she was later intimidated in a hotel reception during a 19 August 2023 training camp and raised that concern with Bibi Steinhaus-Webb, then head of women’s referees at PGMOL and Webb’s wife.
In the months following, nominations to FIFA were submitted and Benn learned in December that she had not been selected from the cohort, having been ranked sixth by PGMOL. At the tribunal Benn’s counsel suggested her lowered ranking was linked to her second complaint; Webb denied that suggestion, saying her placement reflected others outperforming her and that rankings are competitive.
Webb outlined PGMOL’s selection process as a “holistic” assessment covering physical attributes, contextual decision-making, in-game engagement, interpersonal skills on and off the pitch, and knowledge of the game. He said PGMOL had “honestly” expected a sixth FIFA place might be available given growth in the women’s game and signals from sporting bodies, but maintained Benn was correctly placed sixth based on performance factors.
Webb also said he recalled a meeting in October 2023 with Benn and PGMOL’s chief operating officer Danielle Every in which Benn expressed fears that officials were reluctant to raise grievances because of possible repercussions. Webb said PGMOL wants officials to speak openly and confidently and that the organisation wants officials performing on the field.
Benn no longer works at PGMOL and now officiates as a self-employed referee. The employment tribunal is ongoing.