Sick-leave ref's cup final role

Sick-leave ref's cup final role

Mr Miller will officiate in the game at Cardiff

A policeman, who helped referee a major football match while he was on sick leave, is to officiate at the FA Cup Final.

Sergeant Nigel Miller, 43, was off work when he was spotted on television being an assistant referee at the game between Leeds United and Manchester United in September 2002.

The custody sergeant, who lives in a village near Durham, was not disciplined by senior officers at Durham Police after the incident.

Now back at work, he will run the touchline at next month's FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Southampton at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Medical backing

In September, Mr Miller had been absent from his job as a custody officer for a number of weeks and is understood to have been suffering from stress.

He had the backing of his GP and Durham Police to officiate at the Elland Road game.

The match was watched by almost 40,000 fans and a television audience of millions.

A Durham Police spokesman said: "Nigel's appointment for the FA Cup Final is obviously a reflection of the very high regard in which he is held in football circles.

"We are sure he will acquit himself very well."