Lina Lehtovaara
 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 | |
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.
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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