Hege Lanes Steinlund

In 1986, Steinlund began refereeing in Troms as an assistant referee.[2] In 2003, Steinlund broke her right leg and left arm in a car crash that left her with physical ailments.[2][4] In 2004, she was declared fit enough to continue refereeing.[2]

In 2007, Steinlund was assistant referee of a men's Eliteserien match, between Odd Grenland and Strømsgodset. It was the first time she had refereed an Eliteserien game, but she had previously been assistant referee at 1. divisjon matches.[1] In 2010, she was assistant referee for the men's Norwegian Football Cup final. It was the first time that a woman had officiated the event.[2] She also officiated in the Swedish Allsvenskan league.[3]

Steinlund retired from refereeing in 2013. She had been a referee for 27 years,[4] and had been assistant referee in 86 Eliteserien matches.[5] The main reason for her retirement was due to her physical ailments from the car crash in 2003.[6]

In 1997, Steinlund became a FIFA-accredited referee.[7] and in 2004, she began officiating international matches.[3] She was not allowed to officiate matches involving Sweden, due to her work in the Swedish leagues and because her husband is Swedish.[3] She was an assistant referee at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship,[2] and the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship. She had to request permission from her teaching job in order to attend the 2006 competition.[3] Steinlund was an assistant referee at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China.[1] Her final international match was the UEFA Women's Euro 2013 quarter final between Italy and Germany.[3] She was the oldest assistant referee at the Championships.[3] Steinlund is believed to have officiated in more international matches than any other Norwegian referee, male or female.[2]