FIFA assistant referee Simon Bennett has been suspended over allegations of inappropriate behaviour with a woman. The married £110,000-a-year senior linesman has not officiated this season after a probe was launched when concerns were raised about his conduct. He last ran the line on May 24, the final day of last season, in Brighton’s 3-0 home defeat to Man United. The former teacher, 41, had been selected and listed as an official by the Premier League for this season but has now gone to ground, it is said. A source told The Sun: “He has closed all his social media accounts and pretty much disappeared since he was suspended. The investigation is into his inappropriate behaviour with a woman. It has obviously raised eyebrows in the refereeing world because it goes against the grain of the job itself. Refs are supposed to ensure high standards on the pitch, so you’d hope they would do the same off the pitch. But we have to await the findings of the investigation now.”
Bennett, of Kidsgrove, Staffs, studied at Manchester Metropolitan University and taught at The Fallibroome Academy in Macclesfield, Cheshire, before becoming a full-time official. He has worked in the Premier League since 2011, and it is not known if he is still being paid. He has been on FIFA’s assistant referees list since 2013. He occasionally acts as an assistant video referee. Refereeing body Professional Game Match Officials Limited, now called Pro Ref, the FA and Bennett have all declined to comment.
Source: The Sun
