Stephen Graham ‘faces FA probe after calling referee a f**king Teletubby in vicious rant’-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Stephen Graham could reportedly be facing an FA probe after an expletive rant at a referee (Picture: Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Apple TV+)

Stephen Graham could reportedly be facing an FA probe after an expletive-filled rant at a referee.

The Line of Duty actor, 51, is accused of calling the official a ‘f**king Teletubby’ and ‘fat useless t**t’.

It’s claimed he launched insults at non-league referee David Kennedy during last Saturday’s game at Barrow Town in Leicestershire, which caused the match to be delayed by up to eight minutes.

Graham, who was there with his son to watch his nephew play, has reportedly ‘apologised profusely’ to Kennedy and is said to be ‘mortified’.

The official eventually stopped the game, and refused to continue until Graham stepped back from the touchline.

Witnesses told The Sun that Graham suddenly snapped for no reason, and called Kennedy a ‘f**king Tellytubby’, accused him of being on a ‘power trip’, and said he was a ‘useless t**t’.

He allegedly said: ‘Look at the state of you, you fat t**t.’

He is said to ‘mortified’ and ‘apologised profusely’ (Picture: Anthony Harvey/REX/Shutterstock)

A source told the publication that his behaviour was ‘absolutely disgusting’ and everyone, including the referee was ‘horrified’.

They went on: ‘To speak to a referee like that is absolutely appalling.

‘He’s a household name and is a real local celebrity around here.

‘Clearly he wasn’t worried about being recognised.

‘Nothing had even happened to make him flip out – it was like someone flicked a switch.’

‘It’s shameless and he shouldn’t be able to get away with it,’ they added.

The Leicestershire and Rutland County FA are said to be investigating, while another source said Graham asked to apologise to the referee immediately after the game but was advised to go home.

It’s claimed Graham rung the referee two days later to apologise and admitted football ‘turns me into a Neanderthal’ (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

‘I’m sorry, I don’t know what it is about football, it turns me into a Neanderthal.

‘I need to do some soul searching and work out why I behaved the way I did,’ Graham reportedly said in a phone call to Kennedy two days later.

A source close to the Boiling Point star, who received an OBE in the 2023 New Year Honours list for services to drama, also told The Sun: ‘He’s mortified by his behaviour.

‘He’s a very passionate football supporter but understands nothing can justify his actions.

‘He’s apologised profusely to the referee and is hoping to learn from the incident.’

In a statement sent to Metro, Leicestershire and Rutland County FA said: ‘The Leicestershire & Rutland County FA are aware of an alleged incident from a fixture between Barrow Town and Heather St Johns, played on 14 December 2024. We have been in contact with the Match Official to offer our support and we are carrying out a full investigation into the matter. Offences against Match Officials are treated with the utmost seriousness – we strongly condemn any abusive or unacceptable behaviour towards our Match Officials.’

Metro has approached reps for Graham for comment.

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