Top Ref is charged for ''racist remark''

[ian1964 10,666]

Published Date: 11 February 2009

By MARTYN McLAUGHLIN

A REFEREE who officiated in football's top flight has been charged over alleged racist remarks about a former Rangers player.

Mike Ritchie, 49, who has taken charge of games in the Scottish Premier League, is claimed to have described a former Rangers striker as a "black b******" after a function in Aberdeen.

 

Ritchie is alleged to have made the remarks about the French

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player Jean-Claude Darcheville on 10 November last year while leaving the Mannofield Cricket Club following a meeting of the Aberdeen and District Referees Association.

 

Police said yesterday that a report has been sent to the procurator-fiscal concerning the alleged incident.

 

Mr Ritchie, from Macduff, has officiated several prominent fixtures in his career, including games featuring Rangers. Appointed a grade 1 referee ââ?¬â?? the most senior rank ââ?¬â?? in 1999, he has scaled down his workload after breaking his ankle. He works with the SFA to train young referees and is employed by the NHS as a risk trainer.

 

A Grampian Police spokeswoman said: "A male has been charged in relation to an incident at Mannofield Cricket Club on November 10, 2008. A report has been sent to the procurator-fiscal."

 

No-one from the SFA was available for comment.

 

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Top-referee-is--charged.4966810.jp

[CammyF 7,600]

Will be interesting to see how this pans out

 

Cammy F

[Frankie 8,394]

Strange - the SFA are always usually available for comment when it is fans under scrutiny?

[Super_Ally 0]

Should such a man be in position of influence over young people and the future officials of the game?