Football League referee Dean Mohareb charged with computer hacking

 
Three men, including listed referee Dean Mohareb, have been arrested on suspicion of hacking into the Football Association's (FA) networks.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed arresting Mohareb, Liam Cliff and Vincent Rossi. Mohareb is accused of perverting the course of justice and unauthorised access to computer data. Cliff and Rossi have both been charged with perverting the course of justice.

Police confirmed that the hackers attempted a cyber attack to access private information stored on the FA network.

Greater Manchester Police investigated allegations of computer hacking and the dissemination of private information at the FA," read the statement. "Three men have been charged following allegations of computer hacking at the FA.

Mohareb, a Football League referee, is a senior member of the FA's Referees Department in his role as national referee development manager.

He was first arrested over allegations that he hacked into a colleague's email account in October last year. Police seized a number of electrical items from his home on that occasion.

Mohareb was suspended by the FA in February. The other two men are not FA employees, it is understood.

The FA has declined to comment on the matter while legal proceedings are going on.