Referee cleared over match clash

Referee Brendan Doherty was cleared of the charges

An off-duty football referee has been cleared of being involved in fighting before a Champions League match between Manchester United and AS Roma.

Brendan Doherty, 44, of Thruxton Drive, Northampton, denied committing a public order offence outside the Old Trafford ground on 10 April.

The judge at Trafford Magistrates' Court said there was not sufficient evidence to identify Mr Doherty.

Police officers had to separate rival fans outside the football ground.

The court heard that a man fitting Mr Doherty's description had been seen "orchestrating" a group of youths by beckoning them towards an outbreak of violence on Sir Matt Busby Way, near the stadium.

The identification evidence in this case is not very good Judge Tim Devas

It followed violence between the two sets of fans at the first leg of the quarter final held in Rome.

Giving evidence, Pc Ian Hunt told the court he was "100% certain" that the person he had seen was Mr Doherty.

But Judge Tim Devas said Mr Doherty - a non-league referee with Northamptonshire FA - had no case to answer. He had pleaded not guilty on 25 April.

Judge Devas said: "The identification evidence in this case is not very good.

"The evidence I have heard is on clothing and nothing else. The officer concedes that other people with similar clothing would have been in the vicinity.

"I have never been given a proper description."

A 16-year-old boy was also found to have no case to answer in relation to a separate public order offence on the same evening.