Assistant Referee Gareth Viccars Charged with Child Sex Offence

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An assistant referee who has officiated in EFL and FA Cup matches is due to appear in court charged with a child sex offence. Gareth Viccars is facing one charge of penetrative sexual activity with a girl, aged 13-15. He appeared in Willesden Magistrates Court last week and has been remanded in custody, with his next appearance scheduled at Snaresbrook Crown Court on March 7, where a plea will be entered. The allegations against Viccars have led to his suspension by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for refereeing games in English professional football.

The PGMOL suspended Viccars as soon as the investigation began, and he has not officiated any matches during the current season. A PGMOL spokesperson stated that Viccars was immediately suspended when the allegations came to light, and the organization is not in a position to comment further due to the ongoing police investigation. The Football Association and the EFL have been approached for comment on the matter. Viccars has officiated in various matches, including League One and League Two games, as well as FA Cup matches, and has worked as a second assistant, fourth official, and first assistant.

Viccars' career as an assistant referee has been put on hold due to the charges against him. He has worked in the EFL and FA Cup since 2018 and has also officiated in the Premier League 2 competition. Prior to becoming an official in the EFL, Viccars worked as an office manager for an estate agent and had previously set up an IT company. The case against Viccars is ongoing, and his next court appearance is scheduled for March 7. The PGMOL has taken immediate action in response to the allegations, and the organization will continue to monitor the situation as it develops.

The timeline of events in the case against Viccars is as follows: * August: Viccars was suspended by the PGMOL following the launch of a police investigation into the accusations against him * Last week: Viccars appeared at Willesden Magistrates Court and was remanded in custody * March 7: Viccars is scheduled to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court, where a plea will be entered The stakeholders involved in the case include the PGMOL, the Football Association, the EFL, and the police. The policy points relevant to the case include the PGMOL's suspension of Viccars and the organization's commitment to cooperating with the police investigation.

The statistical data relevant to the case includes the number of matches Viccars has officiated in the EFL and FA Cup, as well as his experience working in different roles, such as second assistant, fourth official, and first assistant. The views of the stakeholders involved in the case are as follows: * The PGMOL: The organization has stated that Viccars was immediately suspended when the allegations came to light and that it is not in a position to comment further due to the ongoing police investigation * The Football Association: The organization has been approached for comment on the matter * The EFL: The organization has been approached for comment on the matter The case against Viccars is ongoing, and the outcome is yet to be determined. The suspension of Viccars by the PGMOL is a significant development in the case, and the organization's commitment to cooperating with the police investigation is crucial in ensuring that justice is served.