Ex-international and high-powered professional to referee Northern Ireland match
Fifa referee Justina Lavrenovaite-Perez is a former Lithuanian international
When Northern Ireland face Hungary in the picturesque city of Gyor on Friday, they will experience something of a rarity — a referee who knows exactly what it’s like to be in their position.
There is a theory throughout the game that on-pitch relationships would be improved if ex-players took up the whistle.
That an understanding of the passion involved when winning is all that matters would go a long way to eradicating controversial decisions and take the heat out of any that do occur.
“Since I have played myself, I understand the emotions of football players and I don’t take them personally,” said Justina Lavrenovaite-Perez, a former Lithuanian international now into her 10th year as a Fifa referee, who will take charge of the Women’s Nations League match.
A widely diverse background and many different experiences throughout her life combine to make Lavrenovaite-Perez a natural fit as a referee.
She worked as a security guard while forging a career with Vilnius FM-JL Stars and having five years in her international team and now runs a coaching school along with her American-Mexican husband, known as Roku.
A goal against neighbouring Latvia back in 2007 was one of her career highlights. Professionally she has held high-powered roles at several blue chip companies — Unilever, Phillips and now L’Oreal.
Slightly older than the elder members of the Northern Ireland squad, the 39-year-old experienced similar barriers that manager Tanya Oxtoby and a number of her team will be able to identify with.
“My father is a big football fan, he played in several teams. In my house football was often on TV, but I started playing quite late at the age of 13,”
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