Following the discovery of racist remarks made at Rodney Parade, the Football Association has imposed a five-month ban on a former Welsh Premier League referee.
Rodger Gifford, a referee observer from Llanbradach in Caerphilly, has been fined £400, mandated to participate in an education session, and banned from all football-related and football-related activities for five months.
Gifford, who was employed by the Premier League from 1992 to 1996, refuted allegations that he committed an infraction at the FA Cup second-round match on December 2 between Newport County AFC and Barnet at Rodney Parade.
But after hearing the team of officials’ testimony, an impartial regulatory body determined it was true and applied the penalties.
“There was a comment made by the observer (Rodger Gifford) towards the assistant referee coach (who was listening to the debrief) which was inappropriate regarding his skin colour,” referee Jacob Miles stated after the game.
“It was fortunate that you were not over there as assistant referee as we would not have been able to see you,” Mr Gifford remarked, addressing the brilliance of the floodlights and advertising boards on the far side of the field as well as how occasionally it was difficult to see because it was dark in some spots.
However, we could see your teeth if you smiled. [Name withheld] is a man with dark skin, thus his race was mentioned in this remark.
“I thought this was a very inappropriate comment, and even though [name redacted] laughed it off in jest a little, it made the dressing room feel uncomfortable for a short while because of what had been said.”
The fourth official and assistant referees supported the assertion.
The FA report claimed that Gifford “stated that he did not believe that he meant the comments with any malice,” “would never intentionally insult a valued colleague,” and that he promptly wrote an apology after entering a not guilty plea.
Nonetheless, the allegation was unanimously deemed proved by the Regulatory Commission.
Gifford admitted to a similar infraction in 2022; as a result, he received an eight-week suspension, a £200 fine, and an order to participate in an education programme.
It has been stated that Gifford, a freelance employee of the PGMOL, has not participated in any observer duties since the Newport game.
