A senior police officer who serves as a top football assistant referee is under investigation for alleged serious misconduct — yet he was still allowed to officiate a major FA Cup quarter-final.
Richard West, 51, a sergeant with Humberside Police, ran the line during Chelsea’s FA Cup quarter-final clash against Port Vale at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
West is currently suspended from public-facing police duties after a female officer accused him of coercive and misogynistic behaviour.
The allegations relate to an off-duty relationship between 2024 and 2025. When the woman ended it, he is said to have bombarded her with unwanted messages, gifts, and contact, even after being told to stop.
He is also accused of misusing his authority to control her work shifts.Despite the serious claims and his ban from normal police work, football authorities permitted him to continue refereeing.
West has officiated hundreds of professional matches, including Premier League games and even Champions League ties.
A source close to the situation questioned why he was allowed to keep working in football while facing such grave allegations, noting that his refereeing career could now be at risk.
West, a father of two from Hull, previously appeared in a 2012 BBC police documentary. He has described refereeing as his true passion and has balanced it with part-time police work to boost his pension.
A misconduct hearing for the police case is scheduled for April 27.The Football Association and PGMOL, the body that manages referees, have been aware of the situation but have not publicly commented.The story has raised questions about vetting and accountability for officials who work in both policing and professional football.