RAMSBOTTOM United secretary John Maher has been cleared of a misconduct charge by the Manchester FA after being accused of telling a female official to 'get back in the kitchen'.

Female referee's assistant Leanna Oliver had alleged Maher had made the offensive remarks during United's North Western Trains League clash with Great Harwood at the Showground on August 23.

Miss Oliver, who lives in Burnley, claimed Maher had made comments during and after the game along the lines that she was not fit to officiate at the match and she should get back in the kitchen.

But Maher fiercely denied the charges at a hearing in Manchester last night.

And after hearing evidence from witnesses representing both sides, the three-man panel ruled in the Ramsbottom secretary's favour.

But Maher, who had asked for the case to be heard by the Manchester FA, remains angry about the whole affair and is now considering resigning from his post as a Lancashire FA councillor. "I still cannot understand why I was charged on the strength of an assistant's report five weeks after the game had taken place," said Maher.

"So I've contacted the Football Association about it and I'll be very interested to hear what they have to say about it.

"Some comments were made by the crowd but it certainly was not me.

"In these days of political correctness those types of comments should not be made.

"But I never shout abuse at match officials and anyone that knows me can tell you that."

Meanwhile, the Lancashire Football Association refused to comment on the case other than to say: "We do not comment on persons, players or teams. This is strictly between us and them," said Jim Parker, an LFA official.

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