AN ASSISTANT referee who officiated EFL and FA Cup matches is due to appear in court charged with a child sex offence.
Gareth Viccars, 46, has been charged with “engaging in sexual activity” with a 15-year-old girl.
The assistant referee appeared in court earlier this month accused of “intentionally touching” a girl aged 15 “not reasonably believing she was 16 or over”.
He has worked as an official for League One clashes in the EFL alongside his day job as an estate agent.
Viccars appeared at Willesden Magistrates Court on February 7 charged with engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15, contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
The assistant referee, from Milton Keynes, is alleged to have committed the offence in Romford, east London, on November 15, 2021.
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On March 7, he will appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London where a plea will be entered.
He has not refereed in the EFL since last year, and last appeared on February 3 2024 when he was the fourth official League One Charlton Athletic v Derby County.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which is responsible for the refereeing of games in professional English football, suspended Viccars while the police investigation was ongoing.
A PGMOL spokesperson said: “As soon as the allegations came to light, Mr Viccars was immediately suspended.
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“As the matter is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, we are not in a position to comment any further.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
