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Ex-Premier League referee David Elleray told black colleague 'You look rather tanned' and asked him 'Have you been down a coal mine?', whistleblower claims

A former Premier League referee accused of telling a black colleague 'you look rather tanned', and asking him: 'Have you been down a coal mine?' is the subject of a complaint of historic racism.

David Elleray, who is also chair of the FA's referee committee and technical director of the International Football Association Board (Ifab), is said to have made the comments to Rob McCarthy in 2014.

After the comments first came to light at the time, Elleray apologised and took an equality and diversity training course after being reminded of the FA Council Code of Conduct.