Tribunal win for referees' assistants

Robert Martin, from Sheffield, Hereford-based Andy Williams, John Stokes, from the Wirral, and Mark Hutchinson, of Nottingham, had reached the set retirement age for officials working in the Premier League and Football League and were told they could therefore no longer officiate at the top level.

Martin, Stokes and Williams had all worked as assistant referees in the Premier League, and Hutchinson in Championship and Football League matches. They were appointed by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL).

The officials were represented at an employment tribunal in Sheffield by Prospect, which said the tribunal found the retirement age and the enforced retirement was discriminatory under age discrimination law. Several other officials had been given exemptions to continue beyond the retirement age.

The tribunal will hold a further hearing shortly to determine whether the four match officials will be reinstated and, if not, the amount of compensation to which they will be entitled.