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18th Feb 2025

Football League referee, 46, charged with child sex offence

Zoe Hodges

He is due in court next month

An assistant referee for the English Football League has reportedly been charged with a child sex offence.

Gareth Viccars is due to appear in court as he faces one charge of penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 15. 

The 46-year-old has already appeared in Willesden Magistrates Court last week and is due to appear in Snaresbrook Crown Court on March 3 where he will enter a plea, according to Sky Sports News.

The official has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance.

A spokesperson for the refereeing body, the PGMOL, confirmed to Mail Sport that Viccars has not officiated any matches this campaign adding: “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.”

Viccars started officiating in the football League in 2018-2019 and has also officiated FA Cup and Carabao cup games.

As far back as the 2015-16 season, Viccars was officiating in the Premier League 2, which at the time was the under-21s league.