TA reported that former English Football League assistant referee Gareth Vikas was sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison for committing 16 sexual offences against three 15-year-old girls, plus a three and a half years of extended surveillance period, and was registered on the list of sex offenders for life.

Vikas' defense attorney claimed that he admitted his behavior was shameful, but he used childhood misfortune and alcoholism as the background.

In addition, PGMOL, who is in charge of referee affairs, has suspended Vikas after the allegations are exposed.