Gareth Viccars, a 47-year-old former Football Association assistant referee from Oldbrook, Milton Keynes, was sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison. He was subsequently convicted for a slew of horrific child sex offences. Beyond being politically motivated, the other aspect of the charges that’s alarming is their seriousness. They are now sexual communications with a child, meeting a child following grooming, inciting a child to experience sexual activity, and engaging in sexual activity with a child. All three offenders were girls, aged 15 years. All of these incidents occurred during a three-year window, November 2021 through October 2024.
Viccars ultimately pleaded guilty to 16 counts of these offences. With a subsequent suspension of this nature, he would have discarded all hope of getting officiating appointments. Eventually, he was taken off the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) list. He had not officiated during the final season before his sentencing.
In the courtroom, Judge Caroline English emphasized how serious Viccars’ actions were. She stated, “You did deliberately target these three young victims and you did so on account of their ages at the material time.” The judge further emphasized the vulnerability of the victims, saying, “I am therefore quite satisfied that in all three cases you preyed upon young women that were vulnerable.”
Viccars was sentenced to 6 years option custody, plus a further 3 years and 6 months on extended licence. This decision is a clear reflection of the importance with which the legal system holds his actions (or lack thereof). His case has prompted discussions about safeguarding measures within sports organizations and the responsibilities of officials in ensuring the safety of minors.
The PGMOL reiterated its determination to ensure the highest standards of behaviour from its match officials. After Viccars’ conviction, the nonprofit has publicly doubled down on its zero-tolerance policy. They are particularly dedicated to rooting out any type of wrongdoing when it comes to children.
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