By Johnny Edward
World football body, FIFA, has named Finnish referee, Lina Lehtovaara, to officiate the opening Group B game between Nigeria and Canada in the early hours of Friday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Falcons take on the reigning Olympic champions at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne at 3:30am.
Lehtovaara, 42, will be assisted by Chrysoula Kourompylyia (assistant referee 1) from Greece, Karolin Kaivoja (assistant referee 2) from Estonia and Romania’s Luliana Demetrescu (fourth Official).
In 2022, Lehtovaara officiated the 2022 UEFA Women’s Champions League final between Barcelona and Olympique Lyon. She was also one of the referees at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022.
Lehtovaara was awarded the Referee of The Year by the Football Association of Finland in 2015/6 and 2018/21.
She officiates the Finnish women’s premier division and the men’s second and third tiers division.
