Lina Lehtovaara (née Långbacka, born 23 June 1981) is a Finnish football referee who has been a FIFA referee since 2009.[1] Football Association of Finland has awarded Lehtovaara as the Referee of the Year in 2015–2016 and 2018–2021.
 Lina Lehtovaara (far right) in 2019 | |||
| Birth name | Lina Långbacka | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
23 June 1981 Kokkola, Finland | ||
| Other occupation | Teacher | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| Kansallinen Liiga | Referee | ||
| Ykkönen | Referee | ||
| Kakkonen | Referee | ||
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2009– | FIFA listed | Referee | |
Lehtovaara has refereed in the Finnish women's premier division Kansallinen Liiga and the men's second and third tiers Ykkönen and Kakkonen.[2] In 2022, Lehtovaara refereed the 2022 UEFA Women's Champions League Final between FC Barcelona and Olympique Lyon. She was also one of the referees of the UEFA Women's Euro 2022.[1] On 9 January 2023, FIFA appointed her to the officiating pool for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.[3]
Lehtovaara lives in Pargas and works as a teacher. Her brother is the former football goalkeeper Gustav Långbacka.[2]
References
edit
- ^ a b "Lina Lehtovaara to referee 2022 UEFA Women's Champions League final". UEFA. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ a b Strozyk, Matias (19 May 2022). "Luokanopettaja Paraisilta tekee historiaa Mestarien liigan finaalissa" (in Finnish). Yle. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ "Match officials appointed for FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™" (Press release). FIFA. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
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