FA Cup assistant allowed to officiate despite being taken off public duties by police
A linesman who officiated in the FA Cup over the weekend has been suspended by the police, it has emerged.
Richard West, on duty for Chelsea's 7-0 trouncing of Port Vale on Saturday, has still been officiating despite being taken off public-facing policing duties as an ongoing investigation continues - according to The Sun.
The 51-year-old is also a sergeant with Humberside Police, having joined the force in 1999. After a break from the force to concentrate on officiating, West is said to have returned on a part-time basis and has had his shifts organised so that he can continue to be a linesman.
West has been a regular for Premier League games but his FA Cup appearance came amid a suspension following accusations of coercive and misogynistic behaviour towards a female officer.
Advert
The accusations of “discreditable conduct" between 2024 and 2025 are from a female colleague who he was involved in an “off-duty relationship” with.
As relayed Misconduct999, he is also alleged to have breached "honesty and integrity", "authority, respect and courtesy" and "orders and instructions".
The father of two has a five-day public hearing which Humberside Police have confirmed will begin on April 27. But the FA and the PGMOL have allowed him to continue his linesman duties, earning around £60,000 as a result.
West, whose wife has a civilian role at Humberside, is accused of manipulating shifts so that the female colleague would not be working alongside other males - and alleged to have still made contact with her despite bosses telling him not to.
It is alleged that West subjected the colleague to "unwanted and inappropriate contact” through mobile phone and even splashed out on gifts.
He featured in a 2012 BBC documentary called 'the Lock Up' - six years into starting his run as a linesman in the Premier League.
West has also been a linesman in the Champions League and refereed in the lower echelons of English football.
The FA said they are not in a position to comment upon a request from SPORTbible.
Topics: FA Cup
Josh Lawless