‘Thank fans’ official taken off duty

The assistant referee who told Manchester City players to thank fans who had paid £62 (€75) for tickets against Arsenal has been taken off duty for tonight’s FA Cup third-round replay between West Brom and QPR.

It is understood the action is not intended as a punishment by referees’ chiefs at Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) but to remove John Brooks, inset left, a relatively new professional official, from the limelight.

Brooks was broadcast on TV during the post-match handshakes saying to City defender Joleon Lescott: “They’ve paid 62 quid over there, go and see them.”