Police probe dad of top ref Oliver
CLIVE OLIVEr, father of elite referee Michael, is now the subject of a police investigation into his running of the Northumberland County FA.
Oliver Snr, 53, resigned as chief executive in October following complaints by staff about his inappropriate behaviour towards women.
The FA were investigating but the issue has now escalated to involve Northumbria Police following, it is understood, a letter of complaint to the county’s crime commissioner Vera Baird, a former solicitor general.
Officers have been to Northumberland FA headquarters in Blyth to interview staff.
The serial allegations against Oliver, who remains a Football League referees’ assessor, go back 17 years. A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: ‘We have received a complaint regarding an allegation of inappropriate sexual behaviour. The inquiry is at an early stage.’
The FA say they are assisting police. Oliver Snr, who is believed to be on a Caribbean cruise at present, was unavailable for comment.
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