A female football referee has lost her unfair dismissal case against Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after an employment tribunal ruled that the organisation acted reasonably in dismissing her. Lisa Benn, 34, claimed she was physically manhandled and threatened by former Premier League assistant referee Steve Child at a training tournament in March 2023, but the tribunal rejected allegations of unfair dismissal and sex discrimination.
The tribunal, sitting in south London, found that while physical contact between Mr Child and Ms Benn did create an intimidating environment, it was likely Mr Child would have acted similarly with a male referee. The panel noted that Mr Child had previously shouted at mixed groups of officials and that there were no facts to suggest the incident was related to sex.
Ms Benn lost her place on the FIFA officiating list, which led to her dismissal. The tribunal stated that the main reason for her removal was her relatively lower rating compared to other referees, not her complaint about Mr Child's behaviour. However, the panel accepted a claim for breach of contract relating to pay in lieu of notice.
Claims for direct sex discrimination and unlawful deduction from wages were withdrawn before the ruling. The incident occurred at a training camp match in Loughborough, where Ms Benn alleged Mr Child grabbed her arm and forcefully pushed her onto the pitch. The match later ended in a brawl, with Mr Child reportedly calling Ms Benn 'bloody-minded'.
