Arsenal coach who called young official a 'little p****' should pay fine to referee fund, say charity

An Arsenal academy coach was fined and banned for calling a young referee a 'little p****'
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A referees' charity today demanded an overhaul of football’s disciplinary procedures after an Arsenal academy coach was fined and banned for calling a teenage female referee a “little p****”.

Ref Support UK want the money from fines to go into a “referee benevolent fund” to support officials.

Arsenal coach Alex Nichols was charged after an Under-9s match against Reading. Nichols’ behaviour was described as “abhorrent” by the disciplinary panel as he screamed and shouted at the referee, who witnesses say was left in tears.

The findings state how at the end of the match Nichols is alleged to have said to the official “how classy, little prick” after she refused to shake his hand. He later denied having made the remark.

At an initial hearing the Arsenal academy coach was found guilty of one charge of improper conduct, but cleared of using abusive words after the game. The FA appealed against the ruling and a second hearing found Nichols guilty of both charges. He has been banned for three matches and fined £400, but Ref Support UK have called for change.

“This money will not go to the ref but will go to the FA or County FA. We call for fines in these cases and similar, are placed into a new referee benevolent fund,” the charity tweeted this morning. “There is no justification for making money out of ref abuse and assaults.”

An Arsenal spokesperson said the Premier League club had taken “appropriate action” against Nichols, “suspending the coach immediately”, while he has been warned about his future conduct.

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