Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Paul MacInnes

EFL assistant referee Gareth Viccars charged with child sex offence

Assistant referee Gareth Viccars.
Assistant referee Gareth Viccars. Photograph: John Mallett/ProSports/Shutterstock

An assistant referee who has officiated at matches in the EFL and FA Cup is to appear in court charged with a sexual offence.

Gareth Viccars is set to appear at Snaresbrook crown court on 7 March when a plea will be entered related to a single charge of sexually penetrating a girl aged between 13 and 15.

Viccars has served as a match official in the EFL since the 2018-19 season but was suspended from his role in August of last year when the police began an investigation into the allegations against him. He has not been involved in a match since the 2023-24 season.

  • Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'.
  • If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
  • In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
  • Turn on sport notifications.

A spokesperson for Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said: “As soon as the allegations came to light, Mr Viccars was immediately suspended. As the matter is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, we are not in a position to comment any further.”

The Football Association was not in a position to comment on the case.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.