According to reports, the assistant referee in Chelsea's FA Cup quarter-final win over Port Vale is also a suspended policeman. Richard West has been allowed to continue officiating despite being taken off his public duties as a cop after a serious complaint from a female colleague.
The 51-year-old has covered hundreds of professional football games, including Premier League matches, and was working as a linesman in a recent FA Cup match. Indeed, he was running the line when Chelsea hosted Port Vale at Stamford Bridge on 4 April, winning 7-0, as they will now face Leeds United in the semi-final.
However, he could now lose his position as a sergeant with Humberside Police after being accused of coercive and misogynistic behaviour towards a female officer.
Sergeant Richard West Faces Misconduct Hearing in April
Linesman Richard West during Chelsea v Port Vale
According to the Sun, Sgt West has been banned from public-facing duties as a police officer until a five-day hearing this month. He is accused of “discreditable conduct” between 2024 and 2025 against a woman colleague who had worked under him and was going through a personal crisis.
The report adds that West is accused of embarking on an “off-duty relationship” with her, but when she ended it, it is said he “subjected her to unwanted and inappropriate contact”, including bombarding her with gifts and phone messages.
Adding to this, the 51-year-old is alleged to have misused his authority to manipulate shifts, ensuring she was not working with other males, and is also accused of contacting her after being ordered not to by professional standards bosses.
It's reported that West returned to Humberside Police in a part-time role a few years ago to top up his pension, with his shifts arranged around his football refereeing schedule. He has two children, and his wife also works in a civilian role with the same force.
Humberside Police have confirmed a misconduct hearing starts on April 27.
Source Slams the FA Over Serious Allegations Against Linesman
The FA Cup trophy is displayed inside Wembley stadium
Despite all the controversy around West, the FA and the PGMOL have both let him continue running the line, earning an estimated £60,000 since the allegations were first made.
A source told The Sun:
“His career is on the line. The allegations are very serious and police took immediate action. So why was he allowed to carry on refereeing?
“The FA have been aware of it but they’ve still let him carry on.”
As per the Sun, the FA are unable to comment, while the PGMOL have recently been made aware of the allegations.